March 25, 1999 - Halton Social Planning Council releases Halton Food Bank Study: Alternatives to Dependency. Concern about food security in our community evoked a series of questions about the role of food banks in resolving peoples food needs. The Halton Social Planning Council believes this study provides important insights into food banks and their contribution to peoples food security in our community. It describes the transformation of food banks from an emergency response to organizations providing food over significant time periods to those without. It also identifies, through the voices and written comments of study participants, the root causes of food insecurity. Important findings are:
i) an increase in the number of the working poor as recipients
ii) an increase in the number of unemployed people between the ages of 45 and 65 lacking current employment skills as recipients
iii) an increase in the number of people with disabilities as recipients
The study also reveals that of 102 Halton food bank recipients studied
In general, food bank recipients think food banks are very helpful and are very grateful they exist, asserting that they and others would be in a worse situation without them.
"Were very grateful, extremely grateful, we wouldnt be this far... they really helped us."
Food bank recipients agree that food banks assist them, but feel several improvements can be made. The following comment reflects the view of participants:
"I think they are doing a good job and they are doing a tough job, so they might as well complete this and ask the people... find out the exact needs. Not the exact needs - the necessities."
"I think they are doing a good job and they are doing a tough job, so they might as well complete this and ask the people... find out the exact needs. Not the exact needs - the necessities."
Recommendations for improvements include that food banks, service providers, concerned citizens, the private sector and government collaborate to:
- Develop consistent policies and procedures to better serve food bank recipients such as eligibility requirements, frequency of visits, food quality, including expiry dates, availability of food vouchers, and provision of non-food items.
"Sometimes some of the stuff is really old . . . past its expiry date."
"If the food banks allowed you to go in there and pick what you used. You know what I mean, theres not much sense in giving you a can of pork and beans... because I cant eat it. I would be better off if they let me pick something that I can use myself."
"Dont give me another can of brown beans, give me a package of barley that I can make beef barley soup
. Brown beans and canned spaghetti, Im sorry Im getting so sick of receiving it because I can only eat so much ... but if you gave me a bag of flour, a bag of sugar, a bag of powdered milk ...."
"How can I cook? I need oil. Give me some tomato paste, give me some oil
!" !"
"Whenever you see an ad for a drive for the food bank, you know on the bag or in the paper they always ask for the same things. They ask for canned fish and they ask for macaroni and cheese... people [food bank recipients] are getting the same things but is this what we are asking for?
"I get angry when I think about it because I worked all my life... its not my fault."
"Its something thats more than just a job...people that are just getting jobs are not necessarily out of the food bank syndrome... their jobs arent affording them a life style that they can stop using the food bank... $6.85 an hour minimum wage isnt going to do it."
" You know its really ridiculous and when you talk to these people and say listen how the hell am I going to pay $500 in rent and feed a growing boy, eighteen years old... he eats like a horse...and help with the clothing and stuff like this on $600, can anybody tell me how to do that, I would greatly appreciate it."
"We were compelled to rent a very high apartment. Its $1,000 per month for rent, which is very high, but we couldnt find an alternative. We applied to subsidized housing but subsidized housing says they have a long waiting list and that is the reason why we depend completely now on the food bank."
Study participants express hope that this study would increase public awareness about the need for food bank services in Halton and address some of the reasons for food bank dependency. Participants believe that the community has little understanding of poverty and how it drives one to seek help from food banks. People donate food but do not question why they need to give food or why there is a need for food banks.
The Council trusts that this report will serve as a blueprint for action to build food security across Halton.