Food bank usage sky rockets across Canada and locally

In Canada, 35 per cent of food bank users are children, but provincially, that number is more like 45 per cent.

In March, 47 per cent of those using the food bank in Prince Albert were children, but Clark has seen that number get as high as 50 per cent.

The Prince Albert Food Bank provides services to five to six per cent of the population each month, or 2,000 to 2,500 (out of 43,000). In March, 2,331 people used the service, but Clark said that’s one of their slower months.

Since the beginning of the economic downturn in 2008, the numbers at Canadian food banks have been steadily on the rise.

Locally, Clark said people are faced with income disparity, as some people have more than enough, while others have nearly nothing.

If a single person, or single parent, is living off a fulltime minimum wage job, at $10.20, they would make $21,216—before deductions. After paying federal and provincial taxes (15 and 11 per cent respectively) they would be left with $15,699.84, or $1,300.32 a month.

That’s why many people are forced to pick between buying food and paying rent, Clark explained.

“Rent is atrocious. It’s nothing to have $1,000 or $1,500 rent a month if you’re in private rentals,” said Clark. “If you’re lucky enough to have a fulltime minimum wage job, that’s not enough either.”

“High paying jobs are rare and blue collar jobs are basically non-existent.”

More and more people across the country are turning to foodbanks even though they work fulltime. In Saskatchewan, these job holders make up 18 per cent of foodbank users.

“Our working poor is an at risk population,” said Clark.

In Prince Albert, 75 per cent of those who use the food bank rent homes on the open market, and another 20 per cent qualify as hidden homeless (there are up to 300 living in hidden homelessness in Prince Albert).

Only 50 per cent said they were on social assistance, while 20 per cent have no income whatsoever.

“Without an address, you can’t collect assistance,” explained Clark.

Thirty-two per cent of users are two parent families, 31 per cent are single parent families, 26 per cent are singles and 11 per cent are couples without children.

Food Banks Canada suggests some changes to combat hunger across the country.

Their first recommendation has to do with a creating a basic income.

“It’s saying everyone has the right to a certain amount of money that you need to survive…more based on living wages,” said Clark. “There’s lot of talk around the country about that.”

He said it has been piloted in the past successfully, but ended up being forgotten about.

The second suggestion is all to do with accommodation.

“We just need more affordable housing, period,” said Clark.

He’s hoping to see more home ownership, and rent based on income.

The third point is to enhance employment and training supports, especially for people lacking education.

Clark said this is something that plagues northern regions.

Northern populations are also the focus of the fourth and final recommendation, which is increasing food security in those communities.

This may be one of the reasons people often end up in Prince Albert.

“Usually when it warms up is when people come into town…they can camp along the river,” said Clark. “And if they’re staying with relatives in town, it puts pressure on that family now.”

In the past, Clark said they were meant to be more of an emergency service for temporary use, but for many families that has changed.

“It’s just unbelievable, it crashed our direct feeding program completely,” said Clark, who put on the last Share-a-Meal service in March. “We couldn’t do it anymore, to the point where we really were struggling capacity wise.”

And they aren’t alone.

When the downturn hit the oil industry, Alberta’s food bank usage rose by 80 per cent, the highest in the country—by far.

“We heard the cry from Alberta when the oilfield layoffs happened, it was incredible,” said Clark.

With the help of volunteers, who fill jobs that could normally be covered by staff, the Prince Albert Food Bank has been able to continue operations.

“It’s getting harder and harder, without a doubt,” said Clark. “We’re changing with the times to ensure we keep servicing our community.”

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Food bank usage sky rockets across Canada and locally

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