We are seeing families facing an increasingly difficult time in affording the city’s rapidly rising rents, where coming to a food bank is the only way some can keep a roof over their heads. We are also seeing a continuing trend of people needing to come to food banks for much longer periods than before – the average length of time people needed our help in previous years was one year; now it is two years. This increase is largely being driven by the fact that the disability portion of provincial social assistance falling far behind rising food and rent costs. Many clients with disabilities have little choice but to receive help from a food bank as a long-term budgeting strategy, rather than a short-term form of assistance. As the report shows, while clients are facing many hardships in trying to support themselves and their families, they have a great deal of knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to their city in many different ways. They are very grateful for the assistance, and want to give back once they get back on their feet. In the meantime they need healthy food – and the vast network of food banks and other member agencies are here to help.

This report contains valuable information to better understand the extent of hunger in Toronto, and the driving forces behind it.