When we reflect upon the term "food security" on World Food Day each year, we tend to think it applies to Third World countries --places far removed from us. In 1945 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) designated October 16 as World Food Day to increase public awareness that millions around the world cannot access enough to eat reliably. But here in North America, where obesity is rising at an alarming rate (and we spend an obscene amount of money on diets and health costs associated with that obesity) there are many for whom food security is a daily struggle.
The demographics of food bank clients vary according to region, but statistics show that among the people most susceptible to poverty and hunger are the working poor. Alarmingly, the numbers of working poor forced to use food banks in the Greater Toronto Area has doubled over the past 10 years. Food from a food bank has become an edible source of income for many low-income earners.
One long-time criticism of food banks is that what should be a short-term, emergency stopgap measure actually encourages dependency. But when fixed housing costs average over 65 percent of these household's income, what other choice do these people have? The median monthly income of a food bank client in Canada is $1007. After rent and utilities are paid, they are left with less than five dollars a day for everything else. That barely covers the cost of public transit for one adult to go to work, and it won't even buy a jug of milk and a loaf of bread. Yes, the edible "supplement" does allow their income to be used for other basic needs. But in spite of this, three-quarters of food bank users report often going hungry because they cannot afford to eat. Even more heartbreaking is that many of them are children.
Almost half of the working poor in Toronto earn between $7.75 and $10.00 per hour. Employing workers part-time has desirable benefits for corporations, but this policy is detrimental to low-income workers. Food bank clients work an average of 25 hours per week, which simply does not provide enough income to live on. Most working food bank users feel that they could manage better if they worked more, but employers won't give them the hours. And because they are only employed part-time, the majority don't receive the basic health benefits that most employed Canadians take for granted. Change is badly needed either in the form of amended government policy, or income supplements for low-income earners.
Food banks are in a crisis holding pattern, according to Gail Nyberg who is Executive Director of Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto. She says economic change due to higher living expenses such as increased housing or heating costs (and increased gas prices, or loss of jobs) will plunge thousands who are already at risk of homelessness into crisis. That's because they have to spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing.
Feeding the hungry requires immediate action. Eliminating the need for food banks should be our ultimate goal.
Having enough to eat is a basic human right. As we give thanks for our blessings in this land of plenty, we should be aware of the issues surrounding food security at the global level. But in North America where there is enough food for everyone, it should be socially unacceptable that our neighbours struggle with hunger right under our noses. We need to be asking what we can do at the local and national levels to change this.
Robyn Lee is a regular contributor to The Social Edge.
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