Report Highlights
- 510,438 people accessed a food bank last year alone, an increase of 8,848 people over the previous year
- These individuals visited more than 3 million times throughout the year, an increase of 4% over the previous year
- Over the last three years, there has been a 27 percent increase in the proportion of adults with employment income accessing Ontario’s food banks
- Feed Ontario believes that this is a result of a number of changes to Ontario’s workforce, including: changes to types of jobs available to working-age adults, changes to Ontario’s labour laws, and changes to Ontario’s social assistance and worker support programs.
Recommendations for Change
- Close the gap between social assistance rates and Ontario’s Market Basket Measure Link opens a new window: The insufficient support provided by Ontario’s social assistance programs and government benefits often perpetuate poverty and makes it even more difficult for individuals and families to break the cycle.
- Retain the current definition of disability under the Ontario Disability Support Program: Restrictive reforms limiting access to ODSP will push people with disabilities into deeper poverty, increase stress, lead to worse health outcomes and possible homelessness. (Learn More)
- Invest in affordable housing and a portable housing benefit: With over 87 percent of Ontario’s food bank clients being rental or social housing tenants, affordable housing options are essential to addressing poverty. (Learn More)
Shareables
Get Involved
You can help #FeedChange and support people in need across Ontario by sharing the findings of Hunger Report 2019 and Feed Ontario’s recommendations for change!
How Can I Participate?
- Contact: Call, email, or visit your MPP
- Social Media: Post our shareables and tag us on Twitter Link opens a new window or Facebook Link opens a new window so we can boost it, as well as your MPP.
Who Should I Contact?
- Your Own MPP: Find your MPP Link opens a new window and their contact information Link opens a new window.
Other Key MPPs: Premier Doug Ford (@FordNation Link opens a new window), Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Todd Smith (@ToddSmithPC Link opens a new window), and Parliamentary Assistant for Community and Social Services, Jeremy Roberts (@JR_Ottawa Link opens a new window)
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more about hunger and poverty in Ontario, please see below for more recently released reports by Feed Ontario: