Fighting Hunger Through Social Policy

ABOUT DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK

VISION AND MISSION Vision Fighting to end hunger in our communities Mission Providing food and resources for hungry people Mobilizing greater support, involvement and action Creating social change to reduce poverty through research, education and advocacy

HOW DAILY BREAD STARTED Began operations in 1983 Response to the recession and the resulting escalation in hunger and poverty Brought together a range of community agencies who were dealing with hunger crisis on the ground Intended to be temporary while public policy solutions to the hunger crisis were sought Driving force was Sister Marie Tremblay, member of Sisters of St. Joseph

HOW DAILY BREAD WORKS Daily Bread Food Bank is a network of food banks and other food relief programs based in Toronto and serving the GTA Food and financial donations are delivered to Daily Bread, which represents the hub of the network Resources are distributed equitably among approximately 160 member agencies

WHAT FOOD RELIEF PROGRAMS EXIST Neighbourhood food banks Tenant food programs Food staples programs Prenatal programs Mobile food banks Meal programs & drop-in centres

HOW PEOPLE ACCESS A FOOD BANK Usually based on a referral, clients are connected to the food bank in the community closest to where they live Must go through an intake process After-rent income and family size are the main criteria for food access Clients can come up to four times per month depending on financial situation

WHERE DOES FOOD COME FROM? Food industry: about 8.2 million pounds (66%) Purchased food: about 2.2 million pounds (18%) Food drives: about 1.5 million pounds (13%) Other food banks: about 450,000 pounds (3%) Total: about 12.5 million pounds

HOW DAILY BREAD FUNDRAISES The general public contributes at least 50% of Daily Bread’s annual revenue earnings The rest is made up of commitments from individuals and corporations, third party & special events, and bequests Daily Bread is not a United Way agency and does not receive United Way funding Daily Bread also does not rely upon government funding Total revenues are approximately $6 million

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTS, ADVOCACY AND JOB TRAINING We provide one-on-one advocacy support and a referral service to clients on issues such as housing, immigration, access to social benefits, employment services, etc Kitchen training program provides paid training positions in food services industry; graduates of the program are placed in employment in the sector

REALISTIC SOLUTIONS FOR HUNGER Daily Bread conducts community-based research (including a survey of approximately 1,800 people accessing food banks) to generate reports and proposals that increase public awareness and political responsiveness to the issues of hunger and poverty We advocate with governments for effective, innovative, and doable government policies that improve income security and the well-being of our clients

WHO EXPERIENCES FOOD INSECURITY IN CANADA

FOOD INSECURITY AFFECTS 1 IN 10 CANADIANS 9.2% of Canadians moderately or severely food insecure 6.3% were moderately food insecure, 2.9% severely -Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 2004, Statistics Canada (2007)

INCOME IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO FOOD INSECURITY

THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT IF SOMEONE IS FOOD INSECURE IS TO FIND OUT IF THEY ARE ON SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

WHO GTA FOOD BANKS SERVE

FOOD BANK USE IN THE GTA RISES AND FALLS WITH CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY AND POLICY Total of 952,883 visits in % increase from % increase from 1995

RECESSION IS CAUSING USE TO SPIKE

WHY DO PEOPLE USE FOOD BANKS? Low income is the most important factor in food bank use: median monthly household income is $967 High cost of housing: 77% of income spent on rent

WHO USES FOOD BANKS? Children: 34% Working poor: 28% Self-identified disability: 47% Newcomers: 46% Single parents: 19% Welfare/ODSP recipients: 65%

FIGHTING HUNGER MEANS ADDRESSING POVERTY Food insecurity is an outcome of poverty (along with many other “insecurities” including housing insecurity, transportation insecurity) From a social justice perspective, income distribution is a first principle of reducing poverty and hunger How to best achieve more adequate incomes is very much a strategic political and public policy question Some successes in recent years: –Ontario Child Benefit (2007) –Working Income Tax Benefit (2007) –Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy (2008) –Developing a Material Deprivation Index (2008)

A HOUSING BENEFIT FOR ONTARIO

What if….. An extra $100 per month can ensure a family can stay in their home instead of going homeless and put on an affordable housing lottery with 129,000 other households? Families in Toronto could afford their own apartment instead of having to double or triple up? A worker who had their hours reduced could still afford the modest apartment he’s rented for years while retraining for a new job Families had a support in place to help them keep their home during tough economic times

What is the Housing Benefit? The Housing Benefit is a proposed new monthly housing allowance paid to all low-income Ontarians based on their rent and income Pays an average of $119 per month for families with children, $96 per month for singles and childless couples Includes all low-income families, both those on social assistance and those working in low-wage/precarious employment Paid as a monthly cheque and applied for through the income tax form like child benefits and GST refund

Why should we do this? Will contribute toward the goal of reducing poverty by 25% within 5 years Will improve housing affordability for many low-income households at a time when household budgets are being stretched due to the worsening economy It extends assistance to the working poor, who currently are not eligible for such assistance on an on-going basis (builds on the Ontario Child Benefit) It removes a major barrier to employment by making assistance available to those trying to leave welfare for work Increases the incomes of people on social assistance without costly and unpopular increases in welfare rates

How does it work? Single receiving OW Steve is single and receiving Ontario Works. He has no current earnings. His total income (including GST credit) is $575 per month including a shelter allowance of $349. All he can afford to rent on that amount is a room in a rooming house with 20 other people. He has no privacy, and only gets to use the kitchen stove at random hours. Steve will receive an additional $113 per month for his housing benefit, on top of his social assistance income. Total income: $575 OW Shelter Allowance: $349 Rent: $500 OW Shelter: -$349 Gap:=$151 X.75 x 0.75 Housing Benefit= $113

How does it work? Single working parent Monica is working full time at the local grocery store and is earning minimum wage. With a total monthly income of $2,062, she is finding it difficult to pay her $800/month rent and afford food for her two children on a regular basis. Since she missed the deadline to apply for the ROOF program, she currently receives no housing help. With the new housing benefit, she would see an increase in income of $136 per month. Total income: $2,062 Rent: $800 30% of Income: -$619 Gap:=$181 X.75 x 0.75 Housing Benefit= $136

A Housing Benefit will address a number of issues at once Housing affordability Social assistance adequacy Employment/labour market problems Working poverty Poverty reduction Food security Prevention of homelessness