Food bank visitors are doing everything they can to stay afloat, but sometimes they still aren’t able to make ends meet.
It may surprise you to learn that 1 in 4 food bank visitors have a job. What this means is that having employment is no longer protection against poverty in Ontario, and it means more people than ever have to turn to food banks just to get by each month.
Why do more people with jobs need support?
Even though it might seem like having a job is the first step in moving out of a rough patch, many of the positions available in Ontario aren’t providing people with enough income to get by.
Over 1 million Ontarians needed the help of a food bank in the last year. For the 250,000 people who have jobs, it’s not just because of low wages – many of the jobs available in the province are part-time, contract positions. With inadequate pay, a lack of hours, and inconsistent shifts, many workers simply can’t afford all their basic necessities.
This can leave families struggling to put food on the table for their kids because they couldn’t get enough hours on this month’s schedule, and struggling to make rent because of low wages.
For those entering the workforce, these issues can make it even harder to get by when they’re just starting out – and can make it difficult to find the hope to keep going. To see how this can impact someone, listen to Noah’s story in the video below:
How we’re helping food banks be there for workers
We’re supporting food banks to make sure they have the resources they need to meet the heightened demand, making sure they can keep their shelves stocked with healthy food. This is more important than ever, and it also allows food banks to make sure they can keep essential programs running.
You may not realize, but food banks provide support to those who turn to them beyond just food. Our network offers programs like resume-building workshops and help preparing for interviews – and assistance with finding housing or affording utilities – to help people maintain stability and work toward a brighter future.
Through our Feeding Possibility! Grants, we provide funding for food banks to offer innovative programs like these, that recognize addressing why someone needs to come to the food bank is just as important as making sure their immediate need for food is met.
But we’re also working to create lasting change, so fewer workers need to turn to a food bank in the first place. This means offering policy recommendations to the Provincial Government about how to best help Ontarians afford their basic necessities. Some examples of policies that support workers are classifying gig workers as employees, reducing barriers to unionization, and protecting workers from wage theft. Improving the quality of jobs in the province is one important step that would reduce the need for food banks in the long term.
How you can help
Hunger is hurting our entire province, including people with jobs. But together, we can create meaningful change and make a difference for our neighbours facing hunger today.
If you’re interested in supporting our work, you can sign our petition to tell our governments it’s time to prioritize poverty reduction, learn more about hunger in Ontario by subscribing to our newsletter, or make a donation to support people who need to turn to food banks across the province.