Mississauga Council has declared a food insecurity emergency

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Food insecurity and demand for non-profit services are far worse than they were even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

(Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga)

“Not again. Not again.” You scroll through the transactions, your eyes scanning the numbers. A sigh escapes your lips as you reach the bottom line. It’s a stark, bleak reality.

“Rent or food. Rent or food,” you say to yourself. You run a hand through your hair, frustration evident. The weight of the decision presses down on you. You close your eyes and take a deep breath. As you open your eyes, a flyer catches your eye. It’s an advertisement for a local food bank that came in your junk mail.

“Food bank. A food bank.”  You hesitate, a mix of shame and desperation warring within you. Finally, you pick up the phone. As you dial the number, a wave of sadness washes over you. You can’t believe you have reached this point.

“How did I let it get this far?”

On Wednesday, November 13^th, 2024, Mississauga City Council passed a motion to declare food insecurity an emergency in the City of Mississauga. This formal declaration is a monumental step in recognizing that food insecurity has gone beyond crisis levels and is not a temporary issue. Food insecurity has been affecting too many residents for far too long. Food Banks Mississauga now serves 1 in 13 Mississauga residents, up from 1 in 37 in 2019.

“Mississauga has the fastest-growing rate of food bank users in the province – exceeding the provincial average – and the number continues to grow with each passing year. This situation is unacceptable and unsustainable. While food banks continue to fill a critical gap, this is a broader issue that they – and we – can’t solve alone, and it’s not just a Mississauga problem,” says Mississauga Mayor, Carolyn Parrish.

“We call on our provincial and federal partners to work with us toward lasting change by addressing the root causes and structural issues driving food insecurity. We need long-term, sustainable, poverty-reduction legislation, policies and programs supporting basic human rights. We must come together to do better for our communities.”

The City of Mississauga has the fastest-growing rate of food bank visitors in the province – exceeding the provincial average. Food Banks Mississauga and their network of 60+ agency members served over 56,000 food bank visitors from June 2023 to May 2024 – 58% more than the previous year. They saw a total of over 420,000 visits – almost an 80% year-over-year increase. The: lack of adequate government assistance, stable financial support and the underfunding of essential programs and services has forced neighbours in need to choose between: food and rent, medicine, and other necessities.

Amidst this skyrocketing increase in food bank usage, Food Banks Mississauga is also preparing for the tidal wave of demand that Statistics Canada and Food Banks Canada have reported are about to hit food banks. They estimated that 1 in 4 Canadian residents will need the help of a community program.

“I’m proud to stand alongside Mayor Parrish and Mississauga City Council as they take this significant step to officially declare food insecurity an emergency in our city,” says Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga. “We have seen an almost 80% increase in food bank visits in the past year. However, despite our best efforts, we’ve only been able to grow revenue by 2% during that same time. The lack of provincial and federal funding for food banks and those facing food insecurity means that we continue to face an uphill battle as more of our neighbours fall further behind. This is why I’m calling on our community to make a gift this holiday season to provide food to neighbours in need today and send a message to their Member of Parliament demanding a Groceries and Essentials Benefit to support our neighbours for tomorrow.”

The motion looks to achieve the following through collective actions at all levels of government, including:

• Requesting the federal and provincial governments declare food insecurity an emergency, in solidarity with Mississauga.
• Improving Ontario’s social assistance programs to meet the realities of our economy.
• Investing in affordable, supportive and public housing.
• Building a stronger workforce through better labour laws that benefit workers, and enhanced worker support programs.
• Supporting the Groceries and Essentials Benefit brought forward by Food Banks Canada, aimed to help struggling households afford vital costs like food and shelter.

The Groceries and Essentials Benefit, introduced by Food Banks Canada and other organizations, is the best way to provide immediate income support to those who need it most. To learn more about the Groceries and Essentials Benefit and send a message to your MP, visit www.foodbanksmississauga.ca/groceries-benefit

To make a gift, visit: www.foodbanksmississauga.ca/holiday