TORONTO, June 6, 2006 - Food bank use across the GTA has risen a dramatic 79% since 1995, according to the report Who’s Hungry: 2006 Profile of Hunger in the GTA released today at BCE Place. The results of Daily Bread’s annual survey paint a picture that cannot be ignored of the struggles and financial plight of the diverse population relying on food banks. The 894,017 people who accessed emergency food services last year through GTA food banks, 38% of whom were children, would not go hungry if the issue of poverty were addressed. So, in conjunction with the report, Daily Bread advances the Blueprint to Fight Hunger.

“Hunger is at an all time high,” said Gail Nyberg, Executive Director of Daily Bread, “the fact is food banks are in a crisis holding pattern because of the economy’s relative stability. Any downturn will cause all hell to break loose. So, we had no choice but to come up with a viable plan to tackle the crisis. The root cause of hunger is poverty and the cost of living is rising. The time to act is now.”

Food bank client households are struggling to live on an average monthly income of $954. After dealing with fixed costs, like housing, there simply is not enough to feed a family. The average household using food bank services indicated that they would only need $250 monthly to supplement their current income in order to avoid food bank reliance. The Blueprint proposes solutions by addressing hunger in five key areas: Children, Working Poor, People with Disabilities, Immigrants and Housing. “If implemented,” said Nyberg, “the Blueprint has the ability to eliminate hunger.”

Although Daily Bread works to provide food to clients in need, they acknowledge that food banks are stop-gap solutions to hunger. It is important to note that 40% of clients have used food banks for over 18 months, indicating the food bank use is not an emergency measure; it has become a necessity for some families - essentially an edible income supplement. There has been a 100% increase in the number of children going hungry at least once a week since 1995. The release of Who’s Hungry and the Blueprint to Fight Hunger urges political and community action on behalf of these individuals.

Read the complete report:

Who's Hungry: 2006 Profile of Hunger in the Greater Toronto Area
www.dailybread.ca/upload/DBFB_WH_2006%20COMPLETE.pdf (PDF 1.9 mb, 13 pages)

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