The latest poverty report from Food Banks Canada shows more and more B.C. residents are turning to food banks to get by, with a large chunk of their income dedicated solely to housing. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

D+

B.C. barely doing enough to help reduce poverty: Food Banks Canada

May 27, 2024 | 12:53 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbia has been hit with a barely passing grade when it comes to poverty reduction efforts.

A new report from Food Banks Canada is giving B.C. a grade of D+ when it comes to helping residents avoid falling below the poverty line.

Research director Richard Matern said across the country, Canada is on the verge of failing those living in poverty, with increased legislative commitments to improve the situation failing to keep up with the falling standard of living.

“Close to 50 per cent of respondents for BC in our survey mentioned that they’re paying more than 30 per cent on their housing, and that is a very high percentage. So the affordability challenges are, especially in regards to housing, put a lot of pressure on a household and also impact their ability to afford food.”

The report examines a number of stats to see how poverty reduction efforts are going through different levels of government, including the cost of housing and everyday needs and the quality of social safety nets.

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While Canada does not have an official definition of living in poverty, it’s determined by factors such as amount of income spent on necessities, and ease of access to social programs like housing.

Matern said when forced to choose between rent and food, people usually pick rent, which he said contributes to the food insecurity rating for B.C. being at 21 per cent.

More than 46 per cent of respondents said they spent upwards of 30 per cent or more of their income on housing, up from 39 per cent in 2023.

One of the biggest increases from last year is the number of people having trouble accessing health care, up from 14 per cent in 2023 to 27 per cent this year.

Matern said another worrying stat is the number of single, unattached adults in B.C. who are living in poverty.

“I believe it’s 25 per cent. And that’s a very high percentage and that has to be addressed. So everything sort of paints the picture of people struggling with day-to-day costs.”

Their report makes a number of recommendations for all levels of government, including more affordable housing, support for renters, and an increase in access to social programs like disability and welfare.

But until then, Matern said Canadians who are forced to access food banks continues to increase.

“We saw the highest increase on record last year a 32 per cent increase compared to the year before and the report is stating a 50 per cent increase in 2021. All signs right now are pointing to the need is continuing to trend upwards.”

Director of development at Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo Abby Sawchuk, said the number of people using their service has increased steadily between 25-30 per cent year-over-year.

Looking at the numbers from Jan-April of this year, Sawchuk said those trends are continuing.

“In comparison to last year, we’re looking at the number of visits per month of clients coming is up by 30 per cent, and the number of unique people who are coming is up by 21 per cent.”

In 2021-2022, the number of monthly client visits increased by 27 percent, with the number of unique visitors up 44 per cent.

Sawchuk said the clients they are seeing span all age ranges and demographics, showing nobody is immune to the rising cost of living.

“I know we’ve had to significantly increase the amount of food. Right now we’re serving 44 communities across Vancouver Island and we have 33 food recovery grocery partners to try and keep up with the need.”

She said Loaves and Fishes has a building permit ready for their new planned warehouse on East Wellington Rd., but still requires federal government funding to get shovels into the ground, with a tentative price tag of around $11.5 million.

— with files from Jon De Roo/97.3 FM The Eagle

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