Niagara is experiencing an \u201calarming increase\u201d in the number of people \u2014 particularly children \u2014 who are relying on food banks to meet their basic food security needs, says research from Brock University\u2019s Niagara Community Observatory (NCO).<\/p>\n
But this trend shows no signs of slowing down because the main drivers of food insecurity \u2014 wages and social assistance programs failing to keep up with inflation and the lack of affordable housing, among others \u2014 aren\u2019t being addressed, says the research brief, released Tuesday, April 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs charitable organizations, food banks were designed to provide temporary assistance to those in need,\u201d says the brief\u2019s author, Assistant Professor of Political Science Joanne Heritz. \u201cToday, they are responding to systemic inadequacies by supporting an alarming number of vulnerable residents with food security.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSustaining Food Security in Niagara<\/a>\u201d documents the situation of food insecurity at the local, provincial and national levels and provides a detailed examination of food bank reliance in Niagara. It then analyzes various responses to food insecurity and concludes with recommendations for all levels of governments.<\/p>\n To get the picture of Niagara, Heritz conducted interviews last summer and fall with 24 representatives of food acquisition and distribution organizations in Niagara\u2019s 12 municipalities.<\/p>\n She also interviewed organizations serving vulnerable groups such as children, asylum seekers and students.<\/p>\n The brief\u2019s findings include:<\/p>\n The brief also notes a \u201cdramatic\u201d rise in the number of employed people accessing Niagara\u2019s food banks for the first time, with some working three or four jobs, along with those on fixed incomes.<\/p>\n Ontario statistics show the three factors leading people to turn to food banks are unaffordable housing, precarious employment and inadequate social assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cResidents of Niagara are not earning enough, or not receiving enough, to cover the increasing cost of their rent, which is usually prioritized before their nutritional needs,\u201d says Heritz.<\/p>\n She lists several policy recommendations for federal, provincial and local governments that would help boost food security efforts in Niagara, including:<\/p>\n The NCO brief comes at a time when Canada has reached \u201ca crisis point in the predicament of food insecurity,\u201d says NCO Director Charles Conteh. \u201cThis policy brief documents this national reality, focusing on the situation in Niagara and the region\u2019s response to the crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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