Hunger Report 2018 A Looming Crisis: Senior Hunger in In This Report Who We Are

he Ontario Association of Food Banks is a province-wide network of 130 direct member Who We Are 03 food banks and over 1,100 affiliate hunger- relief agencies that are united in their work Who Uses Food Banks? 04 T to address and prevent hunger and poverty. By The Numbers 08 Through emergency food support, net or ongoing investments into innovative programming, and poverty reduction by the province. Children 10 a commitment to investigating long-term solutions to poverty, The 2018 Hunger Report details the the provincial food bank network data gathered through the Ontario Single-Person Households 11 works tirelessly to improve the food bank network’s client intake health and well-being of the adults system, Link2Feed, between April and families it serves, while making Feature: Senior Citizens 12 1st, 2017 – March 31st, 2018. This recommendations to provincial report also includes a special feature leaders to invest in programs that on Ontario’s senior population Client Story: Ann 22 help achieve its vision of a hunger- and the challenges that they face free Ontario. when trying to balance living on a fixed income with the rising cost of Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot 24 Every year, the Ontario Association housing and basic living expenses. of Food Banks secures and Recommendations for Change 34 distributes more than 5 million The Ontario Association of Food pounds of fresh and non-perishable Banks would like to thank the food for the network, including countless staff and volunteers of Beyond the Table 38 1 million litres of fresh milk and its member agencies for all of their over 2 million servings of protein. hard work in surveying those they On the frontline, Ontario’s food serve, and for their tireless efforts banks provide direct support and in addressing hunger and poverty programming to more than half a across the province every single million adults, children, and families day. facing hunger. While our network works hard to meet the increasing daily demand for our services, we believe that these efforts cannot replace an adequate social safety

3 n individual or family is considered food secure when they have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food that meets their dietary needs. In a province like Ontario, this should be a Astandard that is experienced by every household – and yet, living with hunger is a reality for far too many.

In Canada, household food • Severe Food Insecurity: insecurity has been measured Household had disrupted by Statistics Canada using the eating patterns, due to Household Food Security Survey insufficient income. This may Module (HFSSM) on the Canadian have included eating less Community Health Survey (CCHS). than needed, skipping meals, This survey consists of 18 questions or going one or more days about the food security status of without food. the household over the previous year, and focuses on the self- reports of uncertain, insufficient, In 2012, when the survey last or inadequate food access due collected national data on to limited financial resources, household food insecurity, the and the impact that this had on CCHS found that 8.3 percent, the household’s eating patterns.1 or almost 1.1 million, Canadian The experiences reported by the households experienced food households are then categorized insecurity. Of these households, under three categories:2 almost 70 percent were considered moderately food insecure, and 30 percent were considered 3 • Food Secure: Household severely food insecure. When experienced either ‘no comparing the Ontario CCHS data indication’ or ‘one indication’ on Household Food Insecurity to of difficulty in accessing their the data being collected by the preferred quantity and quality provincial food bank network, of food, due to income. there are a number of strong alignments that both help illustrate food insecurity’s broad spectrum, • Moderate Food Insecurity: Who Uses and the role that food banks play in Household had to compromise assisting families in need. the quality or quantity of their food choices, due to Food Banks? insufficient income. 5 Between April 2017 and March 2018, Once these options run out, adults number of households accessing What this shows is that the majority Ontario’s food banks provided and families often have no other food banks in Ontario falls between of individuals that are accessing support to 227,321 households, choice but to access a local food the number of households food banks are not doing so on a inclusive of 501,590 adults, children, bank for support. experiencing severe food insecurity regular basis, but rather because and seniors. This is a staggering and the total number of households they are facing an immediate crisis number, and equivalent to over 100 When considering the broad experiencing moderate to severe that has left little or no money to percent of households categorized spectrum that the Household Food food insecurity. Food banks were put food on the table. This is further as severely food insecure, and Insecurity categories span, the never intended to be a complete illustrated by the most common 57 percent of the total number statistics make sense. Households solution to food insecurity. Rather, reasons that clients give for of households categorized as that are on the marginal to their role is to provide emergency visiting a food bank, which include: experiencing either moderate or moderate end of the food food and support services to those changes to their income level, not 4 severe food insecurity in Ontario. insecurity spectrum can generally who are experiencing the most enough hours of work, unexpected manage using coping strategies severe levels of hunger and poverty. expenses, or a lost job. It is commonly assumed that all such as budgeting more strictly, households experiencing any choosing less expensive options, “Food banks were For families and individuals that degree of food insecurity would or occasionally going without. are trying to balance already tight visit a food bank, but in actuality However, when adults and families never intended to be budgets, an unexpected expense food banks are most-often visited experience moderate to severe a complete solution to or change in income can be on an emergency basis and after food insecurity, those options are food insecurity. Rather, devastating to their stability and all other coping mechanisms have no longer sufficient, leaving them dramatically impact their ability to been exhausted. This may include, with no other choice but to turn their role is to provide afford all of their basic needs in a

rt 2018 rt for example, downsizing a home, to a food bank to help bridge the emergency food and given month. extending a credit limit, or using gap. This is clearly illustrated in the support services

R ep o savings to pay for basic expenses. graph below, which shows that the to those who are experiencing the most FIGURE 1.1: Household Food insecurity rates vs households using severe levels of hunger

Hunger Hunger 5 Food Banks and poverty.”

The number of times that an

d Banks d Food Insecure - Severe individual or family might visit a food bank throughout the year

f Foo f varies, depending on their personal circumstance and need. In the last

n o n Served by Food Banks year, Ontario’s food banks were visited 2,935,376 times by just over half a million people. Of these o ciati Food Insecure - Moderate and Severe individuals, 26 percent visited only once, 49 percent visited three times

A ss o or less, and 14 percent visited 12 or 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 more times per year. o Ontari 6 7 FIGURE 1.4: Highest LEvel of FIGURE 1.7: Reason For Visiting By the Numbers Education completed Benefit/Social Assistance 35.0% Some Elementary or High April 2017 - March 2018 32.7% Changes School Low Wages/Delayed Wages/ 16.8% High School Diploma 32.5% Not Enough Hours College Diploma 12.9% Relocation (Immigration/ 11.4% 501,590 Some Post Secondary 9.8% Moving) Individuals accessed a food University Degree 8.6% Unexpected Expense 11.0% bank in Ontario Trade Certificate/Professional Unemployed/Recently Lost 7.5% 2.0% Accreditation Job Master’s Degree/PhD 1.7% Sickness/Medical Expense 7.3% Homeless 4.7% 2,935,476 33% Debt 3.7% visits were made to a food were children Unexpected Housing 3.3% bank in Ontario Expense/Natural Disaster FIGURE 1.5: household Composition Benefit/Social Assistance 2.4% Delays Single Person 52.8% Family Breakup 1.4% FIGURE 1.2: Visits by Month Single Parent Families 19.0%

300,000 Two Parent Families 14.1% rt 2018 rt 250,000 Couples, No Children 6.9% Other 7.3% 200,000 FIGURE 1.8: Primary Source Of R ep o 150,000 INcome

100,000 Disability-Related Benefits 30.1% 50,000 Social Assistance 29.4%

Hunger Hunger 0 FIGURE 1.6: Housing Type No Income 12.8% Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Other 10.4% Private Rental 73.0% Employment Income 8.5% Social Housing 16.1% Old-Age Pension 6.3% d Banks d Own Home 4.6% FIGURE 1.3: Frequency of Visits Employment Insurance 1.8% With Family / Friends 3.8% Student Loans or Scholarships 0.8%

f Foo f Emergency Shelter 1.4% 30% Band Owned 0.6% n o n 25% On The Street 0.4% 20% Youth Home 0.2% 15% o ciati 10% 5%

A ss o 0% Figures calculated excluding clients who indicated “unknown” or “undisclosed” in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12+ client profiles. o Ontari 8 9 challenges, and chronic conditions flexibility provided by an additional Children such as asthma.6 Single-Person income source, it is increasingly difficult for a single person to Beyond the impact that hunger has Households adjust to unexpected changes to a hile a number of through childhood, studies have tight budget. investments have shown that the impact of childhood been made by both hunger can create a ripple effect that or single-person households, The chart below illustrates how the provincial and W ultimately makes it more difficult the impact of an challenging, or even impossible, it federal governments in reducing for children who grew up in poverty unexpected expense or can be for a single person receiving child poverty in Canada, children 7 to escape poverty as adults. For loss in income can often social assistance or a minimum continue to be one of the largest F example, a child that does not have be felt even more severely. Single wage income to balance their groups of food bank users in the access to sufficient nutrition is less person households, or unattached monthly budget when compared province. Between April 2017 and likely to do well in school, which adults, represent 52 percent of all to the average cost of a few basic March 2018, Ontario’s food banks can impact their ability to obtain households served by Ontario food necessities, such as housing, were visited by more than 167,000 post-secondary education, secure banks, with over 89 percent being utilities, personal and health care children, representing 33 percent – quality employment, afford all of rental or social housing tenants, and items, and transportation. or 1 in 3 – of all individuals accessing their basic expenses as an adult, 65 percent citing social assistance hunger-relief services. and consequently save adequate as their primary source of income. With this in mind, it is no surprise income for retirement. In addition that single person households are This statistic is deeply troubling, as to addressing income security for Part of the challenge faced by disproportionately represented studies have shown that childhood adults, the continued investment single-person households is that amongst food insecure households rt 2018 rt hunger is linked to negative into preventing childhood hunger there is only one income to cover and those accessing food banks. academic and health outcomes, today is essential to decreasing all monthly expenses. Without the including impaired learning and adult and senior poverty in the R ep o decreased productivity, a higher future. risk of depression and mental health FIGURE 1.10: SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES

Ontario Disability Full-Time

Hunger Hunger Ontario Works FIGURE 1.9: Potential findings associated with food insecurity and Support Program Minimum Wage hunger8 Monthly Income $733.009 $1,169.00 $1,598.0010,11 Rent13 $897.00 $897.00 $897.00 Infant Increased risk of weakened attachment to parents Bachelor Apartment

d Banks d Poor performance on language comprehension tests Bills/Utilities $179.08 $179.08 $179.08 Inability to follow directions over the first five years of age 12 Electricity, Phone, Internet Delays in socioemotional, cognitive and motor development Child f Foo f Higher level of hyperactivity/inattention and poor memory Personal Care Items $191.17 $191.17 $191.17 Higher frequency of chronic illnesses Clothing, Cleaning Supplies, n o n Increased risk of childhood obesity Toiletries Depression and suicidal ideation Health Care $113.58 $113.58 $113.58 Youth Medication, Health Care Mood, behaviour and substance abuse disorders Basic Expenses Supplies and Equipment o ciati Increased risk for maternal depressive disorders Transportation $150.00 $150.00 $150.00 Mothers of severely hungry school-age children are more likely Maternal to have a lifetime diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or Total $1,530.83 $1,530.83 $1,530.83 A ss o substance abuse Income Left For Food and ($797.83) ($361.83) $67.17 Higher likelihood of unresponsive caregiving practices All Other Expenses o Ontari 10 11 or decades, the future for Canadian seniors seemed bright. From the 1970s until the mid- 1990s, senior poverty rates declined rapidly, and Canada had one of the lowest poverty F rates amongst industrialized countries.14 Canada introduced a number of of 65 now falling below the low- key initiatives, like Old Age Security income measure (LIM).16 With baby- (OAS) in 1952 and the Guaranteed boomers entering or approaching Income Supplement (GIS) in 1967, to their retirement years, this trend ensure the country’s elderly would is extremely concerning, as senior not fall into poverty. At the same citizens are expected to comprise time, many Canadian employers 24 percent of the population by were providing strong private 2041,17 and no longer have the pensions to their workers to reward same access to income support them for their years of service. that ensures they will not fall into poverty as they age. However, significant trends have started to emerge that signify a This increase in senior poverty is looming crisis for those entering already being reflected in Ontario’s retirement, and that could food bank data, with the number ultimately result in a dramatic of seniors accessing hunger-relief increase in the number of seniors services increasing more than 10 falling into poverty.15 Since the percent over the previous year, a mid-1990s, the senior poverty rate rate nearly three times faster than has been increasing, with over 12 the growth of Ontario’s senior percent of Canadians over the age population.18

FIGURE 2.1: SENIORS FALLING UNDER THE LOW INCOME MEASURE19

35% 30% 25% 20% Feature: 15% 10% 5% 0% Senior Citizens 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 13 What is even more troubling is that a small percentage were ‘defined plans to defined contribution plans, Ontario’s seniors are twice as likely I. The Decline contribution’ plans, which do not with the proportion of workers to need help from their food bank on guarantee income and are more covered by defined benefit plans an ongoing basis, with 25 percent vulnerable to downturns in the decreasing by 24 percent.22 While of seniors visiting a food bank more in Pensions market, especially if the downturn providing any pension plan is better than 12 times in a year, compared happens close to the recipient’s than none at all, employer pension to only 13 percent of those under retirement age. In the last 20 years, plans are following a growing trend he comfortable retirement 65 years of age. On the frontline, employer pension plans have shifted of reduced income security. that so many Canadians food banks have expressed significantly from defined benefit thought they could look concern that these staggering forward to is typically statistics actually underestimate T funded by multiple sources, which the number of elderly people who is often referred to as the “3-legged are going hungry, due to the stigma 23 stool”: employer pensions, personal FIGURE 2.3: Pension Plan types, 1996 vs 2016, percent of total around asking for help or barriers savings, and government benefits. that might prevent seniors from Unfortunately, for Ontario’s seniors accessing a food bank. 1996 2016 % Change this stool is becoming increasingly more unstable. The question then becomes, what Defined Benefit Plans 88.0% 67.1% -23.8% has changed and what can be done For many decades, the social to ensure Ontario’s seniors have Defined Contribution Plans 10.5% 18.0% +71.0% contract between workers and sufficient income to support their companies dictated that if an rt 2018 rt retirement years and do not run the employee worked hard, contributed risk of falling into poverty? to the success of the organization, R ep o and demonstrated many years of FIGURE 2.4: Canadian workers covered by a registered pension plan, FIGURE 2.2: senior POPULATION loyalty, they would be repaid with 1976-201624,25 GROWTH: ontario’s food banks a generous company pension upon versus generAL Population, 2017-2018 retirement. Yet for many Canadian 44% Hunger Hunger workers, this is no longer the case. 12% As of 2017, only 34 percent of 42% Canadian workers were covered 10% by an employer pension plan, a 21 40% d Banks d percent decrease from 1982.20,21 8% 38%

f Foo f Moreover, those who are fortunate 6% enough to have an employer 36% n o n pension are finding that its value is 4% decreasing. In 1996, the vast majority 34% of employer pensions were ‘defined o ciati 2% benefit’ plans, which guarantees 32% a regular monthly income for life 0% A ss o Food Bank Ontario Seniors and has the employer assume the 30% Seniors risks instead of the individual. Only 1976 1984 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 o Ontari 14 15 19 percent of respondents When all of the criteria for each II. The Decline have saved less than $50,000, III. The benefit is met by the recipient, representing a savings gap of 94 these programs work fairly well. percent.28 The average CPP payment, for in Personal Decline in example, is $673.10 per month.33 While Canadians understand the For those that meet all of the Savings importance of putting money Government criteria of GIS and OAS, this amount away for the future, a changing job is then eligible for an additional market and a rising cost of living combined, maximum payment of utside of employer- Benefits 34 has made saving for retirement $1,470.27 per month. Together, provided pensions, many a challenge. Precarious work, this provides a benefit of $2,143 retirees depend on their contract employment, and stagnant he last leg of the per month, or just below the 2016 personal savings for income mean more Canadians retirement stool is the before-tax low-income measure of O 35 income, yet 1 in 3 Canadians are not are spending their savings during variety of benefits provided $2,150 per month. financially prepared for retirement.26 rough patches.29 When coupled by the government to According to a recent poll by CIBC, T with the rising cost of housing and seniors. The Government of Canada The real concern is for the 32 percent of Canadians between basic living expenses, it becomes provides three core benefits to individuals that do not meet the 45 and 65 years of age have nothing 32 difficult to afford even day-to-day seniors: criteria that ensures the maximum saved for retirement.27 What makes basic needs, much less contribute to amount of each benefit. For this especially troubling is that it is retirement savings, with the lowest example, total benefits through estimated that the average amount • Canada Pension Plan (CPP): net worth quintile of Canadians CPP are determined based on of personal savings a Canadian A contributory benefit that is rt 2018 rt having saved only $5,248 for the income acquired during an needs to retire comfortably is managed by the government. retirement.30 Similar to the impact individual’s working years. If a $756,000. This is an insurmountable The amount received is of childhood poverty, living with recipient had a primarily low income R ep o amount for many people, as dependent on the recipient’s a low income as an adult creates as an adult, or stayed home to raise the average amount saved for contributions to the plan, and a ripple effect that negatively children, they will not receive as retirement is only $184,000, and is adjusted for age and other impacts one’s retirement future. benefits being received. significant an income from CPP in

Hunger Hunger their retirement years. FIGURE 2.5: PRIVATE PENSION PLAN ASSETS BY NET WORTH QUINTILE, 201631 • Old Age Security (OAS): FIGURE 2.6: Average Annual $80 A public pension that was Pension income, by gender36

$70 created as a safety net for d Banks d seniors, and is earned based $9

x 10000x $60 on the number of years that $8

f Foo f $50 the recipient has resided in $7

Canada. housands $6 n o n $40 T $5 $30 • Guaranteed Income $4 $20 $3 o ciati Supplement (GIS): An income support that was $2 $10 created as a means-tested $1

A ss o $- complement to OAS for low- $- Lowe st net Second net Middle net Fourth net Highest net Men Women worth quintile worth quintile worth quintile worth quintile worth quintile income seniors. o Ontari 16 17 This can be further compacted With this new reality of an uncertain One of the most challenging by looking at OAS, where the IV. Balancing financial future, more and more expenses for low-income adults and benefits are calculated based on seniors are returning to, or staying seniors is the rising cost of housing. the recipient’s years of residence in, the workforce longer to help Although it is commonly believed in Canada. This means seniors that Income vs fill the gaps. As of 2015, one in that older adults are more likely to may have immigrated to Canada five seniors, or 20 percent, report own their home and consequently as adults or spent time working Expenses working part or full time, the highest not have to worry about rent or abroad, for example, are only proportion since 1981.40 While some mortgage payments, the proportion eligible for partial OAS payments.37 seniors remain in the workforce by of senior-led households who are n addition to the challenges choice, there are many others that spending more than 30 percent of FIGURE 2.7: OAS Monthly pension, with meeting the criteria do so only out of necessity. This is their income on housing costs is in 38 by age moved to canada for each benefit’s maximum particularly true for seniors without fact higher than that of non-senior I payment, the fixed income private retirement income who led households.42 $700 provided by the government has are both more likely to continue $600 not kept pace with the rising cost $500 working after the age of 65 and to What’s more, for low income of living. Since 2002, the value of 41 $400 be doing so on a full-time basis. seniors, particularly those that government transfers to seniors has $300 Without an adequate social safety struggled throughout adulthood, remained stagnant, while the cost $200 net or the ability to save sufficient home ownership is even less likely. of living has continued to climb. As $100 income, many seniors simply Not only do low-income seniors $- a result, more seniors have started cannot afford to retire. Full Moved Moved Moved to fall below the poverty line. The OAS at age at age at age insufficiencies of these benefits 43 44 rt 2018 rt 35 45 55 FIGURE 2.8: Senior Poverty rate and Cost of Living Increasing as are echoed in Ontario’s food bank government transfers To SEniors45 remain stagnant data, which shows that over 46 Finally, accessing GIS can be an R ep o percent of the seniors that require additional hurdle for Ontario’s $20,000 14% the support of a food bank also cite seniors. While the federal old age pension as their primary 12% government did make enrolment $19,000 source of income.

Hunger Hunger into GIS automatic earlier this year, 10% the supplement is based on the $18,000 household income indicated on an 8% individual’s tax filings. This can be $17,000

d Banks d a challenge for many seniors who 6% experience significant barriers to $16,000 filing their taxes, such as insufficient 4% f Foo f access to clinics or services, not $15,000 n o n being able to afford tax help, or 2% mental health barriers.39 In the same way that childhood hunger $14,000 0% 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 o ciati can create a ripple effect that extends into adulthood, those that Government Transfers To Seniors (2016 Constant Dollars) struggle financially as adults are 1 in 5 Cost Of Living (Market Basket Measure, 2016 Constant Dollars) A ss o more likely to continue to struggle seniors report working Senior Poverty Rate (Low Income Measure, After Tax) as seniors. part or full-time o Ontari 18 19 tend to have lower rates of home of those accessing food banks, FIGURE 2.9: Proportion of food ownership compared to their the proportion of seniors living in bank Clients living in social higher-income counterparts, the social housing is 37 percent higher housing, by demographic security and equity of ownership than food bank clients under 65 25% for this demographic has been years of age. Yet despite the large on a decline since 1971.46 This is population of older adults in social illustrated in Ontario’s food bank housing, this system is ill-equipped 20% data, which shows that only 10 percent of seniors that access 15% hunger-relief services own their “...the population of home, compared to 77 percent of seniors living in social seniors in the general population.47 10% Further, it shows that 74 percent housing is nearly equal of food bank clients over the age to those living in the 5% of 65 are rental or social housing entire long-term care tenants, making them particularly vulnerable to skyrocketing rental system.” 0% rates, as they try to afford monthly Un de r 65 Over 65 housing expenses on a fixed to meet their needs, simply because income. it was not designed for this purpose. With a 10 percent increase in the While supportive housing and number of senior citizens accessing rt 2018 rt While many seniors eventually hope retirement homes were created food banks over the previous year, to reside in a seniors’ residence that to provide support services to and in understanding the current helps provide meals and medical R ep o their tenants, social housing was trends affecting the lives and care on an ongoing basis, the cost designed for those that are capable incomes of seniors, it is clear that is often far out of reach. As of June of living independently.50 Further, Ontario is on the verge of a crisis. 2018, the average monthly rent despite being home to a growing As the baby boomer generation

Hunger Hunger for a standard space in an Ontario number of aging adults and seniors, continues to move into retirement seniors’ residence had reached over social housing providers do not age, it will become imperative 48 $3,600, a rate that is 167 percent receive any core funding to assist that the provincial and federal higher than the maximum payment these tenants.51 Food banks have governments begin to implement

d Banks d provided by CPP, OAS, and GIS expressed significant concern about basic income guarantees that combined. some of the unique challenges that ensure senior citizens have their senior clients are facing, such sufficient income to afford f Foo f It is, therefore, not surprising that as decreased mobility and a reduced monthly necessities, like safe and n o n more seniors are turning to social ability to prepare meals. This has clean housing, medical care, and housing to make ends meet. This led to many food banks developing nutritious food. is illustrated in Ontario data that specific programs, such as delivery

o ciati shows the population of seniors services, prepared meals, and living in social housing is nearly assistance with government forms, equal to those living in the entire to help low-income seniors access A ss o long-term care system.49 In terms the support they need. o Ontari 20 21 space for the kids to run. It was a husband, but he wanted nothing to While I still had to be careful, I had a Ann’s Story good place to raise children, but it do with me, and would not support roof over my head and could afford was not a good place for me. me in anyway. By this time, my kids a bowl of cereal every day. were young adults and one was married. hen I was 28, my My husband was gone all day, the Over the last year, I started going husband and I moved kids were in school, and while I to the Orangeville Food Bank, who to Canada from the worked part time in a flower shop, I continued to see the counsellor have been very helpful in filling in W United Kingdom. It the isolation was too much for me. every week, but things continued government forms – particularly was 1981 and he was offered a job I started to suffer from depression to go from bad to worse, in terms after I turned 65 and transitioned that we thought would help us that ultimately sent me to hospital. of my mental health. The counsellor from receiving ODSP to OAS and build a foundation for a great life My husband, frustrated by my got in touch with my local council to GIS. Because I have only been together. illness, was not very empathetic. see if I could be put on the priority in Canada for 38 years, I cannot list, because my mental health was access the full OAS benefit. Having not good. the food bank’s support has saved However, after only a few months me a lot of heartache. in our new home, the recession of “At times, I thought the 1980s hit and my husband lost about getting away, “The rent-geared- his job, after only a few months of but the finances just I have had a very good experience work. It was during this time that we to-income (RGI) with the Orangeville Food Bank, found out I was pregnant with our weren’t there. I didn’t apartment was a who has just started a pilot program first child. This put significant stress have enough income. I godsend. I was on in my building, because the number on our marriage until he eventually of seniors were increasing at the rt 2018 rt couldn’t go anywhere.” found a new job working the night- ODSP, which doesn’t food bank. The response has been shift. provide very much, but phenomenal. People line up, and are R ep o I decided that because I had come excited to see fresh pears, grapes, because it was RGI my and frozen dinners that were My first son was born later that year, from a dysfunctional family, that I rent was only a third of prepared by the local high school. and we decided I would stay home was not going to walk out on my They work hard to accommodate to raise our child. As often happens kids. I was going to stick it out – my income.” Hunger Hunger

the seniors and their special diets. with children, number one became and that’s what happened for the number two, who we lost in the next 15 years. There were a series of Within a week, I got a notice that I I consider myself lucky. I got away hospital, and number two became hospitalizations, and my husband had been approved for the priority number three – another little boy became more emotionally abusive. from an abusive relationship. I’m d Banks d list, and a week after they offered working on myself. Sometimes it’s in 1985. I guess God wasn’t finished me a rent-geared-to-income easier said than done, but it’s ok. with us, because although we were At times, I thought about getting apartment in Orangeville. My f Foo f not planning to have any more away, but the finances just weren’t husband was out of the country, children, I got pregnant again. n o n there. I didn’t have enough income. and I moved while he was gone. I couldn’t go anywhere. In 1987, we welcomed our third son The rent-geared-to-income (RGI)

o ciati and decided that the little semi- After struggling for almost two apartment was a godsend. I was on detached home we lived in just decades, I started to receive ODSP, which doesn’t provide very wasn’t big enough, so we found a counselling and was put on the much, but because it was RGI, my A ss o place in a small rural community community list for a subsidised rent was only a third of my income. that had an acre of land and lots of apartment. I still lived with my o Ontari 22 23 Ontario’s n April 2017, the Government of Ontario launched a Basic Income Pilot program in four communities across the province: , Lindsay, Hamilton, and .52 The purpose Basic Income of this project was to investigate the provision of Ia basic income as a viable and long-term solution to poverty and trends related to a significantly changing Pilot job market. This project provided 4,000 low-income individuals in the test communities with an annual income Results From Past of $16,989 for unattached adults and Basic Income Pilots: up to $24,027 for couples,53 so that researchers could study the impact • Decline in that a steady and increased income hospitalizations, would have on the health and specifically for livelihoods of these participants. accidents, injuries and The initial reports from the project mental health diagnoses were extremely positive, with many (Dauphin, Manitoba)56 of the participants indicating that they had used the additional support • Lowered instances to take advantage of opportunities of behavioural and that were not available before, such emotional disorders as: going back to school to upgrade among children, skills, enrolling their children in reduced alcohol activities, obtaining apartments consumption (Great in safer neighbourhoods, or even Smoky Mountains, North starting a new business.54 Carolina)57

While the Basic Income Pilot was • Improvements in school intended to be a three-year study, performance and expected to conclude in 2020, nutrition, increases in it was announced in July 2018 new business openings that the Government of Ontario and personal savings had decided to terminate the (Madyha Pradesh, project, and would be winding India)58 down payments to participants by March 2019.55 For those

25 participating in the program, this assistance programs and interest: our communities received announcement was devastating, the continuation of the Basic Letter from delegations from the United as many reported that the income Income Pilot as an evidence- Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and issued through the pilot had already based solution to poverty in the United States interested in been allocated to long-term costs, our province. The enactment the Mayors learning from our experience. such as tuition or the lease of a safer of these cuts would be a step home, that will extend far beyond backwards in our collective n September 2018, the mayors of The Ontario government’s the program’s final payment. This effort to create a healthier and the Basic Income Pilot test cities cancellation of the pilot is has led to potentially harmful hunger-free Ontario. (Brantford, Hamilton, Kawartha distressing to participants and implications for these participants, I Lakes, Thunder Bay) wrote a discouraging to all seeking a better as they struggle to rebalance This sentiment was echoed by food joint letter to The Honourable Jean- way to assist vulnerable citizens. budgets and terminate contracts banks across the province, as well as Yves Duclos, Minister of Famillies, The Minister of Community Social or plans that they had made under by many community partners and Children and Social Development, to Services indicated that the pilot the belief that the funding available agencies. It is the recommendation request that the federal government was a disincentive to work, and yet through the program would be of the Ontario Association of Food assume oversight of the cancelled ignored the reality that two-thirds available for its intended three Banks that the Government of Basic Income Pilot. of pilot participants are currently years. Ontario reconsider its decision to working (some perhaps at part-time terminate the program, or that the jobs) but seemingly very interested The full text is reproduced below: In response to the cancellation of Government of Canada assume in contributing to the community the Basic Income Pilot, the Ontario oversight of the Basic Income Pilot and enhancing their skills. Association of Food Banks issued for its intended three year term Dear Minister Duclos,

rt 2018 rt before it officially ends in March the following statement on August While the pilot was well into its 2019. 1st, 2018: As you are aware, on July 31, 2018 the first of three years, surveys had

R ep o Government of Ontario announced not been completed to determine Yesterday afternoon, the that it was ending the Basic Income its level of success. However, the Government of Ontario Pilot Program just three months pilot participants had themselves announced its plans to after it was fully subscribed. Neither identified important changes in

Hunger Hunger terminate the Basic Income local participants nor our municipal their lives as a result of the Basic Pilot, as well as reduce the governments were consulted prior Income Pilot Project. Many used planned increase to Ontario’s to this decision. their participation in the project to social assistance programs stabilize their housing, improve their

d Banks d by 50 percent. The Ontario When the program was initially diets, and look for opportunities Association of Food Banks is announced by the previous to improve skills and go back to disappointed and alarmed by school. f Foo f provincial government in April, these unexpected changes 2017, we were gratified that our

n o n and is concerned about the communities were chosen as the Many participants reported feeling impact that it will have on low- pilot test sites. Ontario’s pilot is very better and regained self-esteem, income Ontarians. much at the centre of a growing dignity, and confidence. Their stress o ciati international interest in the concept levels reduced because they were Food banks across the of basic income. Jurisdictions from able to afford their rent; their health province have long advocated

A ss o around the world were observing improved because they have been for increases to Ontario’s social the Ontario pilot with great able to afford healthy food and o Ontari 26 27 they have become active members are some of the most vulnerable believe our request is practical and protect pilot participants from of our communities because they residents of our communities. Many beneficial: crisis who entered into the program could afford to participate in modest pilot participants had planned in good faith and ensure the funds civic activities and volunteer. We ahead for the three-year time • The pilot’s infrastructure that have already been spent on believe the results of the Ontario period to which the provincial and many of the up-front this program are not wasted. Basic Income Pilot would have government had committed. costs are already in place provided crucial information that Many had moved to safer, more with participants chosen, an We look forward to discussing this could enable not just the Ontario accessible rental accommodations evaluation team working, and exciting possibility with you. The Government, but other jurisdictions and are now locked into tenancy timelines and project staff in previous provincial government in around the country to determine agreements they cannot afford; place Ontario showed great leadership the efficacy of such a program on other participants pre-paid to in initiating the project and we are a larger scale. upgrade skills or go back to school • The Federal Government hopeful that your government will and now have no means to cover would benefit greatly from consider seeing through the Basic these additional costs. “The provincial the information that would Income Pilot. be generated by this pilot – government’s decision The provincial government’s the largest such test in the Sincerely, has very much resulted decision has very much resulted world currently underway in a financial crisis for our 4,000 and the first in Canada Chris Friel in a financial crisis for residents who in good faith agreed since MINCOME in the Mayor, City of Brantford our 4,000 residents to participate in the pilot. We fear 1970s – a partnership of the who in good faith that as a result of this ill-conceived Government of Manitoba

rt 2018 rt Fred Eisenberger provincial decision, many of the under Edward Schreyer and agreed to participate Mayor, City of Hamilton pilot participants will inevitably fall the Government of Canada into situations of homelessness and R ep o in the pilot. We fear under Prime Minister Pierre that as a result of this significant financial distress through Trudeau Andy Letham no fault of their own. Others who Mayor, City of ill-conceived provincial had had challenges with mental • The provincial cost of the

Hunger Hunger decision, many of health will need additional supports project was slated at $150 Keith Hobbs as a result of the decision to cancel the pilot participants million over three years, Mayor, City of Thunder Bay the program. will inevitably fall at least one third of that allocation has already been

d Banks d into situations of It is for these reasons that we, the invested in the pilot and will homelessness and Mayors of Brantford, Hamilton, otherwise be lost Kawartha Lakes and Thunder f Foo f significant financial Bay, would request consideration Minister, when the program was n o n distress through no that the Federal Government launched, you said that you would assume oversight of the Ontario fault of their own.” be watching it closely and looked Basic Income Pilot project in our forward to seeing the results - as did o ciati communities for years two and we. Federal oversight of the Ontario three of the planned project. The sudden provincial decision to Basic Income Pilot project would be

A ss o cancel the pilot is distressing for local the best option to revive the critical pilot participants, many of whom There are several reasons why we information that will be generated, o Ontari 28 29 Humans of Basic Income

rt 2018 rt Humans of Basic Income is putting a human face on a political issue, by amplifying R ep o the stories of the people who were recipients of the prematurely cancelled Basic Income Pilot Project in

Hunger Hunger Ontario. These stories expose

very deep flaws in Ontario’s social welfare system that keep people in poverty, but also showcase the resilience

d Banks d of the recipients, who are determined to survive despite the cancellation.

f Foo f Photographer Jessie Golem is a recipient of the Basic n o n Income Pilot, and used her knowledge of the power of visual storytelling to affect

o ciati change as the inspiration for this portrait series.

To see more photos in A ss o the series, please visit twitter.com/humansbasic o Ontari 30 31 health. Having enough income that one is living a life with a greater “independent contributors to the Letter to the is a social determinant of health, sense of abundance, and has more economy”. The Basic Income Pilot and is linked with other social control over their life with a more has the potential to do so much determinants, such as housing, predictable platform on which to more than that, such as decreasing Editor food, transportation, and access to make life choices. It can help to mental health issues, as was found education and health-care services. pull one out of poverty, and give in Dauphin. Over the course of Jaden Calvert one more time to better their lives the past year, approximately 22% Golden Town Outreach, Although there was no final report and contribute positively with their of the clients of the Golden Town Meaford on the ‘Mincome’ experiment gifts to the economic landscape. Outreach Food Bank who are over in Manitoba during the 1970s, the age of 18, who chose to report their employment status, were long with many Ontarians, University of Manitoba economist The Government of Ontario’s Evelyn Forget conducted an decision to scrap Ontario’s Basic either employed part- or full-time. If I was disappointed to the number of individuals who were hear that the Government experimental analysis that Income Pilot project was made compared health outcomes of before any results could be unable to work due to disabilities Aof Ontario made the were not included, the percentage Dauphin residents with other unfortunate announcement that gleaned from the program, making Manitoba residents. From 1974 of those working part- or full- it will be terminating the Basic it impossible to determine whether through 1978, about 30 per cent time would be much higher. What Income Pilot, as well as reducing of the population of Dauphin I have found is that most clients the planned increase to Ontario’s “What I have found is was provided with a ‘Mincome’, of the Food Bank want to share social assistance programs from that most clients of which the guaranteed level of their gifts and be “independent 3 percent to 1.5 percent, meaning income came to be called. Evelyn the Food Bank want contributors to the economy” - it will no longer coincide with rt 2018 rt Forget found that hospital visits to share their gifts everyone has a purpose, and a gift inflation. to share. Some people can use dropped 8.5 percent, with fewer and be ‘independent incidents of work-related injuries, help and guidance, and the Golden R ep o As the Coordinator of the Golden and fewer emergency room visits contributors to the Town Outreach helps to lift people Town Outreach, I work with people from accidents and injuries, that economy’ - everyone up towards meeting their goals, living in poverty, and have a glimpse hospitalizations for mental health including finding employment, and into the world they face. Each has a purpose, and a to contribute their gifts and talents Hunger Hunger issues were down significantly, and

individual is unique, and unique that teenagers stayed in school gift to share.” to the world. in the challenges they face and longer as a result of the initiative. why they are faced with poverty. I Evelyn said that her research I call on the Ontario Government to believe that everyone deserves the it was a success. It was said that

d Banks d suggests that people appear to live provide support for their decision the government decided to end right to live a dignified life, and that healthier when they don’t have to to scrap Ontario’s Basic Income the program after being informed communities have the ability to worry about poverty - makes sense, Pilot, and to reconsider their

f Foo f by ministry officials that it was ensure this. Part of living a dignified right? decision to scrap the Basic Income life is ensuring that everyone has failing to help people become

n o n Pilot altogether and to reduce the enough to meet their basic needs. “independent contributors to the How can someone succeed, and planned increase to Ontario’s social In today’s world, this means that economy.” I think that it is short- pursue their goals and dreams, if assistance programs from 3 percent people need to have enough sighted to think that the Basic o ciati they are constantly worried about to 1.5 percent. monetary income. There are many Income Pilot should be cancelled, bills, food, and the costs of living? factors that impact mental and after not yet a year of running, Having enough consistent income This letter was originally published A ss o physical health, and these are because it is thought that it was to meet your basic needs means in The Meaford Independent on called the social determinants of failing to help people become August 10, 2018. o Ontari 32 33 here are over half a million adults, children, and seniors in Ontario that do not have sufficient income to afford all of their basic necessities, like rent, hydro, transportation and food. It is for this reason that the Ontario TAssociation of Food Banks is calling on the Government of Ontario to make significant investments in good public policy that addresses the root causes of hunger and poverty in our province.

While it is understood that to move them out of poverty, the the provincial government has Government of Ontario will be prioritized increasing efficiencies investing in the overall health and and cost savings in the provincial wellbeing of both the province and budget, it is perhaps not widely its citizens. The Ontario Association known that investments in poverty of Food Banks would like to reduction are actually essential to put forward the following three achieving this objective. recommendations for change:

In 2008, the Ontario Association of Food Banks released ‘The 1. Invest in affordable Cost of Poverty: An Analysis of housing through the Economic Cost of Poverty in construction, repairs, and Ontario.” This report found that poverty ‘costs’ the provincial and a portable housing benefit federal governments up to $13 billion per year ($15.1 billion when Over 89 percent of food bank indexed to inflation) due to poverty- clients are rental or social housing induced medical costs, the criminal tenants who spend more than 70 justice system, and lost productivity. percent of their income on rent. As It also found that investments a fixed expense and non-negotiable made into poverty reduction have cost, paying for housing often leaves the potential to save the provincial little left for other necessities, like and federal government billions of hydro, transportation, and food. Recommendations dollars per year. In April 2018, the Government of By investing in solutions that not Ontario signed the National Housing only help Ontarians afford their Strategy bilateral agreement, for Change most basic necessities, but help 35 which included matched funding 2. Improve the support federal governments investigate to a financial crisis for the for social and affordable housing, and implement basic income 4,000 low-income residents modern flexible housing supports, programs and benefits guarantees that ensure Ontario’s who agreed, in good faith, to and the creation of new affordable available to senior citizens vulnerable senior population has participate in the program. housing options. This partnership sufficient income to afford all of Further, the Mayors stated, will be supported by long-term and their basic necessities, like rent, “We fear that as a result of this predictable funding starting on While the Government of Canada heat, hydro, medical care, and ill-conceived provincial decision, April 1st, 2019. has made significant investments nutritious food. many of the pilot participants into the health and wellbeing of its will inevitably fall into situations senior population, senior poverty As details of the strategy and its of homelessness and significant and food bank use is still on the 3. Reinstate Ontario’s financial distress through no fault of implementation are being finalized, rise. This is an indication that the the Ontario Association of Food Basic Income Pilot for its their own.” The Mayors requested programs and benefits being that the federal government Banks would like to echo the offered to seniors are insufficient intended duration recommendations made in Income assume oversight of the Ontario or inaccessible to those that need Basic Income Pilot project in their Security: A Roadmap for Change them most. and Canada’s National Housing In April 2017, the Government of community for years two and three Strategy: A Place to Call Home: Ontario launched a Basic Income of the planned project. The Ontario Association of Food Pilot in four communities across Banks recommends removing the province. With considerable The Ontario Association of Food • Introduce a housing benefit barriers to accessing the full funds to assist all low-income evidence demonstrating its Banks would like to echo this available through the Canada potential to decrease healthcare request and is calling on both the people with the high cost of Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age rt 2018 rt housing costs, remove barriers that keep Government of Ontario and the Security (OAS), and the Guaranteed individuals trapped in poverty, Government of Canada to reinstate Income Supplement (GIS). and enabling recipients to source Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot for R ep o • Invest in the construction and Solutions to the challenges that improved employment through its intended duration. Ensuring repair of affordable housing, these programs possess may training or skill development, it was the complete investigation of including the preservation include: increasing the survivors believed that the pilot could help this program is an invaluable of at least 130,000 benefit from 60 percent to 100

Hunger Hunger form a foundation for a long-term opportunity and one that could community housing units, percent for those that are not solution to poverty. What’s more, serve as a foundation for building the development of 100,000 receiving other CPP benefits; it was predicted that this solution a more equitable society where all new housing units, and the decreasing the number of years would cost less than what is citizens have access to sufficient repair of more than 300,000 in Canada needed to access the

d Banks d currently being spent on Ontario’s income for their basic needs and housing units over the next full OAS benefit from 40 years; social assistance programs, where no one goes hungry. 10 years and increasing access to GIS by housing, poverty related healthcare f Foo f removing barriers that seniors costs, and the justice system. • Develop a provincial, three- encounter when trying to file their n o n year action plan, beginning taxes. In September 2018, the Mayors of in 2019-2020, setting targets the four test pilot cities – Thunder and outlining how the o ciati With the number of seniors Bay, Lindsay, Hamilton, and Government of Ontario will accessing food banks growing Brantford – issued a letter to the use federal and cost-matched three times faster than the senior Government of Canada stating that A ss o funding to achieve the population itself, it has become the termination of the pilot has led desired outcomes imperative that the provincial and o Ontari 36 37 ood banks recognize that hunger is a symptom of a much larger problem: poverty. It is for this reason that over 96 percent of food banks in the provincial food bank network provide F services beyond emergency food support. This includes rent and hydro 5,000,000 meals to food banks subsidies, housing and shelter and the families they serve, as well programs, income tax help, as over $195,000 to specialized assistance with social assistance local food programs and capacity forms, financial literacy workshops, building initiatives. accredited training programs, and much more. Last year, the Ontario Food banks strive to provide their association of food banks community with the best support provided OVER possible, and often develop specific programs for those they serve. With the increasing number $195,000 of senior citizens accessing food to local organizations banks, for example, many have to increase healthy started offering delivery services food access, supporting to seniors that cannot leave their initatives Such as: homes, community cafés to help address isolation and loneliness, community assistance with income tax filing so that seniors do not miss out gardens on benefits, and specialized food hampers that provide nutritious options for seniors with diabetes or healthy similar health challenges. snacks for

On the provincial level, the Ontario rural kids Association of Food Banks is working hard to ensure that food banks have a variety of fresh and capacity Beyond non-perishable food to support the adults, children, and seniors relying building on their help. Last year alone, the OAFB provided the equivalent of The Table 39 40 Ontario Association of Food Banks Hunger Report 2018 that ensures long-term change. reduction andstrong publicpolicy federal governments into poverty by themunicipal,provincial, and safety netorongoinginvestments not replace anadequate social an immediate need, this effort should network isworking hard to address While theprovincial food bank want to participate. garden bedsfor seniorcitizens who including seed,soil,andraised and sustain community gardens, which helps food banks implement ‘Community Garden Program’, communities, as well asthe for low-income children in rural provides increased programming the ‘Rural KidsProgram’, which This includedthegrowth of goes hungry. towards afuture where noone move theneedleonpoverty we believe that we canstart to commitment to long-term change, in income security and the T can besolved by working together. government, and that this problem Ontario is shared by all levels of of endinghungerandpoverty in alone. W every year, but they cannot do it adults, children, andseniors tirelessly to serve halfamillion Ontario’s food bankswork hrough immediate investments e believe that ourvision that offerat lea Food Bank Food-Focused Social Service Skill-Building Program Program Program 39% 48% 68% s inontario s t one: Feed the Change 13. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2017). worth quintile, Canada, provinces and selected census 46. Statistics Canada. (2015). Homeownership over the Urban Rental Market Survey Data: Average Rents in metropolitan areas (CMAs) (x 1,000,000) [Private Life Course of Canadians: Evidence from Canadian Works Cited Urban Centres (October 2017) [Data File]. Retrieved Pension Assets]. Retrieved from: https://www150. Censuses of Population - Table 1 - Homeownership from: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/data-and- statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110004901 by age and family income quintile defined within age research/data-tables/urban-rental-market-survey- groups. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/ 31. Ibid. data-average-rents-urban-centres n1/pub/11f0019m/2010325/t014-eng.htm 1. Health Canada. (2012). The Household Food Security 32. Government of Canada. (2018). Public pensions. Survey Model (HFSSM). Retrieved from: https://www. 14. Conference Board of Canada. (2018). Elderly Poverty. 47. Statistics Canada. (2017). Age of Primary Household Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/ canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/ Retrieved from: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/ Maintainer (15), Tenure (4), Structural Type of benefits/publicpensions.html food-nutrition-surveillance/health-nutrition-surveys/ Details/society/elderly-poverty.aspx Dwelling (10), Condominium Status (3) and canadian-community-health-survey-cchs/household- 33. Government of Canada. (2018). Canada Pension Plan – Household Type Including Census Family Structure 15. Canadian Museum of History. (2018). The History of food-insecurity-canada-overview/household-food- How Much You Could Receive. Retrieved from: https:// (16) for Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Canada’s Public Pensions: Demanding More (1928- security-survey-module-hfssm-health-nutrition- www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/ Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census 1951). Retrieved from: https://www.historymuseum.ca/ surveys-health-canada.html cpp/cpp-benefit/amount.html Agglomerations, 2016 Census - 25% Sample Data. cmc/exhibitions/hist/pensions/cpp-a28-wcr_e.shtml Retrieved from: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census- 2. Health Canada. (2007). Canadian Community Health 34. Government of Canada. (2018). Old Age Security 16. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0135-01 - Low recensement/2016/dp-pd/dt-td/Index-eng.cfm Survey, Cycle 2.2, Nutrition (2004): Income-Related payment amounts: Table 1 - Guaranteed Income income statistics by age, sex and economic family Household Food Security in Canada. Retrieved Supplement (GIS) amounts for an income range 48. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2018). type. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/ from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/ of $0.00 to $431.99. Retrieved from: https://www. Seniors’ Housing Report: Ontario. Retrieved from: tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110013501 services/food-nutrition/food-nutrition-surveillance/ canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/ https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/catalog/productDetail. health-nutrition-surveys/canadian-community- 17. Ministry of Finance (2018, June 25). Ontario Population old-age-security/payments/tab1-1.html cfm?cat=163&itm=1&lang=en&sid=lwCXQBeceqtt2RGA health-survey-cchs/canadian-community-health- Projections Update, 2017-2041. Retrieved from: https:// 9SLfn7N1zdHIY9eQ5jYQ1JJFgX4W8KIa4c33xIWNzyI6 35. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0232-01 - Low survey-cycle-2-2-nutrition-2004-income-related- www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/economy/demographics/ mvxz&fr=1542051333827 income measures (LIMs) by income source and household-food-security-canada-health-canada-2007. projections/#s3a household size in current dollars and 2016 constant 49. Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. (2016, html#metho251 18. Ibid. dollars. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/ February). focusON: Aging in Place in Social Housing. 3. Statistics Canada. (2015). Household food insecurity, t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110023201 Retrieved from: https://www.onpha.on.ca/Content/ 19. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0135-01 - Low 2011-2012. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan. PolicyAndResearch/focusONs/Aging%20in%20 income statistics by age, sex and economic family 36. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0239-01 - Income gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2013001/article/11889-eng. place%20in%20social%20housing.aspx type. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/ of individuals by age group, sex and income source, htm#n1 tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110013501 Canada, provinces and selected census metropolitan 50. Ibid. 4. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 13-10-0461-01 - areas. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/ 20. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0133-01 - 51. Ibid. Household food insecurity, by living arrangement and t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110023901 Registered pension plan (RPP) active members food insecurity status [Ontario, 2011/2012]. Retrieved 52. CBC News. (2018, Aug 1). Scrapping basic income by area of employment [1982-2017]. Retrieved 37. Government of Canada. (2018). Old Age Security – from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action pilot ‘horrific’, former Tory senator says. CBC News. from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/ How much could you receive. Retrieved from: https:// ?pid=1310046101&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.7 Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ tv.action?pid=1110013301 www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/ /hugh-segal-basic-income-scrapped-1.4770050 5. Ibid. cpp/old-age-security/benefit-amount.html 21. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 14-10-0027-01 - 53. Rushowy, K. (2018, Sept 5). Judicial review requested 6. Ke, J., & For-Jones, E. (2015). Food insecurity and Employment by class of worker, annual (x 1,000). 38. Ibid.

rt 2018 rt over cancelled basic income pilot. The Star. hunger: A review of the effects on children’s health Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/ 39. Prosper Canada. (2017). Breaking down barriers to tax Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com/news/ and behaviour. Paediatrics & Child Health, 20(2): 89-91. en/tv.action?pid=1410002701 filing for people living on low incomes. Retrieved from: queenspark/2018/09/05/judicial-review-requested- Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ 22. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0106-01 - http://prospercanada.org/getattachment/877cb75f- over-cancelled-basic-income-pilot.html articles/PMC4373582/ R ep o Registered Pension Plans (RPPs), active members 4f8f-44ff-b762-af726c3afce7/Breaking-down-barriers- 54. Gewurtz, Rebecca. (2018, September 28). Cancelling 7. Wagmiller, R., & Adelman, R. (2009). Childhood and market value of assets by contributory status. to-tax-filing.aspx Basic Income is cancelling hope. The Hamilton and intergenerational poverty: The long-term Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/ 40. Statistics Canada. (2017, November 29). Census Spectator. Retrieved from: https://www.thespec.com/ consequences of growing up poor. National Center for en/tv.action?pid=1110010601 in Brief: Working seniors in Canada. Retrieved opinion-story/8933200-cancelling-basic-income-is- Children in Poverty. Retrieved from: http://www.nccp. 23. Ibid. from: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census- cancelling-hope/ org/publications/pub_909.html recensement/2016/as-sa/98-200-x/2016027/98-200- 24. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0133-01 - 55. Ministry of Children, Communities, and Social Services. Hunger Hunger 8. Ke, J., & For-Jones, E. (2015). Food insecurity and x2016027-eng.cfm Registered pension plan (RPP) active members (2018. Aug 31). Ontario’s government for the people hunger: A review of the effects on children’s health by area of employment [1982-2017]. Retrieved 41. Ibid. announces compassionate wind down of basic income and behaviour. Paediatrics & Child Health, 20(2): 89-91. from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/ research project. Government of Ontario. Retrieved Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ 42. Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2011). tv.action?pid=1110013301 from: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2018/08/ articles/PMC4373582 Characteristics of Households in Core Housing Need: ontarios-government-for-the-people-announces- 25. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 14-10-0027-01 - Canada, P/T, CMAs [Data File]. Retrieved from: https:// 9. Income Security Advocacy Centre. (2018, September compassionate-wind-down-of-basic-income-research- Employment by class of worker, annual (x 1,000). www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/data-and-research/data- 10). OW and ODSP Rates and the OCB 2018. Retrieved projec.html d Banks d Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/ tables/characteristics-households-core-housing-need- from: http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/ow- en/tv.action?pid=1410002701 canada-pt-cmas 56. Forget, Evelyn L. (2011). The Town With No Poverty: and-odsp-rates-and-the-ocb-2018-les-taux-dot-du- Using Health Administration Data to Revisit Outcomes posph-et-de-la-poe-2018/ 26. Lovett-Reid, Pattie. (2018, February 8). 32% of 43. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0135-01 - Low of a Canadian Guaranteed Annual Income Field Canadians are nearing retirement without any savings: income statistics by age, sex and economic family

f Foo f 10. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 14-10-0036-01 - Actual Experiment. Retrieved from: https://web.archive. poll. BNN Bloomberg. Retrieved from: https://www. type. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/ hours worked by industry, monthly, and unadjusted for org/web/20170126003728/http://public.econ.duke. bnnbloomberg.ca/32-of-canadians-are-nearing- tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110013501 seasonality [Based on 30.7 Hrs/Week]. Retrieved from: edu/~erw/197/forget-cea%20%282%29.pdf

n o n retirement-without-any-savings-poll-1.991680 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid= 44. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0230-01 Market 57. Ferdman, Roberto. (2015). The remarkable thing that 1410003601&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.7&pickMember 27. Ibid. Basket Measure (MBM) thresholds (2011 base) for happens to poor kids when you give their parents s%5B1%5D=2.12&pickMembers%5B2%5D=3.2&pickMem reference family, by Market Basket Measure region a little money. Washington Post. Retrieved from: bers%5B3%5D=5.1 28. Ibid. and component, in current dollars and 2016 constant https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/ 29. Lewchuck, W. et al. (2016) The Precarity Penalty: How dollars. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/

o ciati 11. Neuvoo. (2018). Income tax calculator, Ontario, wp/2015/10/08/the-remarkable-ways-a-little-money- tv.action?pid=1110023001 Canada. Retrieved from: https://neuvoo.ca/tax-calculat Insecure Employment Disadvantages Workers and can-change-a-childs-personality-for-life/?utm_ Their Families. Alternate Routes, 27. Retrieved from: or/?salary=20628&from=year®ion=Ontario 45. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0239-01 - Income term=.8bd5abf8ec58 http://www.alternateroutes.ca/index.php/ar/article/ of individuals by age group, sex and income source, 12. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0224-01 - viewFile/22394/18176 58. Fernandez, Benjamin. (2013, May). Rupees in your Canada, provinces and selected census metropolitan

A ss o Household spending by household type. Retrieved pocket. Le Monde Diplomatique. https://mondediplo. areas [Median Income, Government Transfers, 65 Years from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.actio 30. Statistics Canada. (2018). Table 11-10-0049-01 - Survey com/2013/05/04income and Older]. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan. n?pid=1110022401#timeframe of Financial Security (SFS), assets and debts by net gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1110023901 o Ontari 42 43 Authors

Amanda King Ashley Quan

Research Assistance and Editing Support

Monika Saini Carolyn Stewart

Design

Ashley Quan

Ontario Association of Food Banks 99 Yorkville Avenue Suite 200 , Ontario, M5R 1C1

www.oafb.ca | 416-656-4100