According to the Food Bank Canada HungerCount 2011 survey released Nov. 1, far too many people are being left behind on Canada’s road to economic recovery.
HungerCount 2011 results indicate a staggering 26 per cent increase in food-bank use between 2008 and 2011.
The report highlights that in a typical month, food banks across the country provide food to more than three quarters of a million separate individuals — 851,000 people — and more than 322,000 (38 per cent) of those helped are children.
The HungerCount 2011 survey also found that:
• 11 per cent of those receiving food each month — 94,000 people — are accessing a food bank for the first time.
• One in five individuals and families assisted by food banks have income from current or recent employment.
• 20 per cent of households helped are living on an old age or disability pension.
• Half of households receiving food are families with children.
The HungerCount 2011 report provides recommendations to federal and provincial governments that if implemented will make significant progress in reducing the number of people who need help from food banks.
Recommendations include:
• Invest in affordable housing so that low income Canadians don’t have to make the difficult choice between paying the rent and feeding their families.
• Improve Employment Insurance to better support older workers who have lost their jobs.
• Jumpstart innovative partnerships and government-led programs that help ensure that Canadian jobs are well-paying jobs.
For a full copy of the HungerCount 2011 report visit www.foodbankscanada.ca/hungercount.