The number of people relying on Toronto food banks has doubled this year, reaching “crisis” levels, according to a new report on food insecurity in the city.
The report found that one in 10 Torontonians regularly rely on food banks, up from one in 20 last year, a “grim reality” caused by the rising cost of living.
There were 2.53 million client visits to Toronto food banks between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023–a 51 percent increase compared to the previous year. The report described it as “the highest annual increase ever reported,” adding that if usage were to continue at its current rate, that number would climb to three million visits by the end of December.
The report also revealed that more than 120,000 new individuals started using food bank services for the first time in the past 12 months, a 154 percent increase year-over-year.
“To truly eradicate hunger, it takes more than food banks raising food and funds. There is an urgent need for collaboration and real action among the government, the private sector and food banks.”
The new report, which surveyed 1,384 people from the 79 participating food banks, found that 31 percent of respondents had gone an entire day without eating and 55 percent missed a meal to pay for something else.
Food banks are not frequented solely by the unemployed, the report pointed out. In fact, 52 percent of new food bank clients have at least one person in their household who is employed.
“Skyrocketing housing costs, food inflation, stagnating wages and insufficient income supports are pushing more and more households into deep poverty,” Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington said.
After paying rent and utilities, food bank clients have an average of $6.67 left per person, per day for food and other necessities, a noticeable drop from last year’s average of $8.01. The report also found that 23 percent of those they service spend all of their monthly income on housing, leaving no money for other necessities.
“My income doesn’t cover all my needs,” said one survey respondent. “That’s why I have to rely on support like the food bank.”
Despite an 11 percent increase in inflation since 2021, the median hourly wage of $16 has remained the same among the food banks’ clients.
“I’m working, but it’s still not enough,” another survey respondent said. “Sometimes I have to borrow money, then I have to pay it back; it’s a cycle.”
Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank are calling on all levels of government to not only take notice of the problem but to help.
“With food bank usage at record levels in Toronto, it is clear that swift and decisive action is needed to tackle poverty and food insecurity,” the report said. “We cannot wait for change to occur.”
