Food insecurity crisis in Hamilton ‘untenable’ as inflation causes the price of groceries to soar
A new report from the Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC) has found that frozen social assistance rates and record-high inflation are creating a food insecurity emergency for Hamilton's most-vulnerable residents.
Social assistance rates in Ontario have been stagnant since 2018, with a single person able to receive up to $1,228 a month on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and $733 on Ontario Works (OW) - which is well below the poverty line.
Meanwhile, in the last four years, the cost of food in the province has surged by nearly 19 per cent, said Sara Mayo, a social planner with the SPRC, in an interview with The Spectator.
The prices of staples such as fresh vegetables, frozen chicken, cereal, milk and fresh fruit have all soared by at least 20 per cent. Eggs have seen the most stark increase, with the price having climbed by 44 per cent.
This is unacceptable," said Mayo. People can't afford to eat because of such low social assistance rates."
Mayo said as a result of rising food costs, many vulnerable residents are foregoing food to ensure they can remain housed, as it's the one budget item that they can control."
Meanwhile, the cost of housing in the province has also increased by 18 per cent in the last four years, she noted. In September, the average one bedroom apartment in Hamilton was renting for around $1,683 a month, $455 more than the total monthly monetary support offered to those on ODSP.
Mayo said the cost of living crisis has resulted in more and more" people turning to food banks to keep cupboards and fridges stocked.
In August, the Good Shepherd enrolled over 170 new households. In September, they expected at least a 20-per-cent increase, with more than 200 new households seeking assistance.
It's making the food emergency crisis untenable," said Mayo. It puts tremendous pressure on the charitable sector. There hasn't been an increase in donations like there has been an increase in need."
Mayo said even with ODSP recipients now receiving a five-per-cent - or a $59 - bump to their monthly monetary support, that measly increase" won't make up for the gaps created by years of inflation.
The situation for those on OW is even more stark, Mayo noted. The government has not announced any increases for those receiving the benefit, which is meant to temporarily support folks as they look for work.
You can't be job-ready if you can't afford to eat," she said. Your entire focus is just surviving day-to-day."
Mayo pointed to the need for the province to double the rates of social assistance, calling it the minimum increase" that the government should be looking at.
People are not able to have any kind of dignity when they're just having to survive each day in our city," she added.
Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com