On Wednesday, December 6th, the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) released Hungry for Change: A New Vision for Reducing Hunger and Poverty in Ontario. Over 330,000 people are served by food banks in Ontario every month, an increase of 18.6% since 2001. That’s equal to the population of Barrie, Cornwall and Peterborough combined.

Over 40% of those served by food banks in Ontario are children, 18.2% are those with disabilities and 17% are working Ontarians.

OAFB’s Hungry for Change provides a detailed look at three populations hardest hit by hunger – Ontario’s children, Ontarians with disabilities and working Ontarians – and offers solutions aimed at reducing hunger and poverty across the province.

Hunger for Change outlines a three year plan for reducing hunger and poverty in Ontario with a cost of just over a billion dollars per year.

In place in the United States, Europe and Quebec, this model has made a significant difference in peoples’ lives.

OAFB is calling for an integrated federal-provincial child benefit plan, more child care spaces and child poverty reduction measures and targets.

OAFB wants an increase in the ODSP support package to provide enough assistance for Ontarians with disabilities to live at or beyond the poverty line and the Ontario Drug Benefit to be extended to anyone deemed medically eligible for ODSP income support.

“We’re not looking at Ontario Works this year,” said Adam Spence, Executive Director, OAFB. “We do recognize that our system of Ontario Works is woefully inadequate, insufficient and there is a definite need for reform. Next year, we want to focus on making sure Ontario Works does work for all Ontarians.”

OAFB is also hoping for a working tax credit for low income workers in Ontario, a small reduction of the personal income tax rates for the lowest tax bracket and an increase in the minimum wage to at least $9/hour in 2007.

“We do recognize that we do have a big problem with affordable housing in Ontario and across the nation,” said Spence. “But our focus right now is on income supplements so people will be able to afford rent and food.”

“There is a great myth that we have this great social safety net that’s going to protect us all,” he said. “And when you’re in trouble, there’s going to be something there for you.”

OAFB said that this is not the case. They believe the social safety net is frayed and know what needs to be done to fix it.

“Everywhere in Ontario we’re seeing manufacturing jobs replaced with lower wage jobs with less benefits and hours,” said Sandy Singers, Chair OAFB and Executive Director, Partners in Mission Food Bank. “There’s this idea that if people had work then they’d be okay but our working poor are increasing all the time.”

If that trend continues, food banks will exceed their capacity to serve their communities.

Already, the responsibility of making up the difference between what workers earn and what they need to survive has fallen to their respective communities and the charitable sector.

Food banks are also scrambling to stock different foods to meet the needs of recent immigrants.

“We need to stop what we’re doing because what we’re doing isn’t making any change,” said Joanne Santucci, Vice Chair OAFB and Executive Director, Hamilton Food Share. “It’s only helping for the moment. This new vision allows us to engage every level of government.”

Some days all food bank volunteers can offer is hope because people need more than what they can offer. The average is three days worth of food.

“But we know Ontarians are going hungry,” said Santucci. “In Hamilton, over 80% of the parents who rely on food banks go a few days without eating so the food will last longer for their children.”

“The solutions that have been documented here should be in the plaform of every political party,” said Michael Prue, MPP, Beaches-East York. “They’re not radical or revolutionary but I don’t think they go far enough.”

Prue said child poverty can be reduced by eliminating the clawback.

The 1997 agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments required that the amount of the National Child Benefit Supplement be deducted from the families on social assistance. McGuinty promised to end the clawback in his first mandate.

“If they only ended the clawback, and nothing else, that would eliminate more child poverty than any other action that could be taken,” said Prue.

“We’re advocating for a $10/hour minimum wage,” he said. “Ten dollars will take anyone who works 40 hours/week to the poverty line.”

Prue grew up in Regent Park. He knows about poverty. He knows the lives of people that never amounted to anything because they were poor. He doesn’t want to see it continue.

“Food banks allows politicians and political parties off the hook,” said Prue. “They feel they don’t have to raise the Ontario Works rates. Meanwhile, people are falling further and further behind.”

“The Liberals answer is if you need food, go down to the food bank,” he said. “To me that’s not the solution.”

“Conservatives believe in rugged individualism,” he added. “If you’re hungry they tell you to go out and get a job. But these people have a job. And you can’t tell children to go out and get a job nor can you tell the disabled to get a better job than what they are capable of doing.”