Freedom – 90Union of Food Bank and Emergency

Meal Program Volunteers

Presentation atFairlawn Heights United Church

Food Bank Experience Event – From Charity to Dignity

May 14, 2014

About 45 per cent of Canadians who rely on food banks live in Ontario.

And one-third of the 375,000 Ontarians who use a food bank every month are under age 18, says the Ontario Association of Food Banks’ 2013 Hunger Report.

Poverty – Just the Facts....

Is it Getting Better or Getting Worse?

Although the overall number of food bank users in Ontario this year is down from last year’s record high of almost 413,000, it is still more than in 2008, when the global economic recession hit.

In the past few years, a number of food banks have had to shut their doors due to insufficient food, lack of volunteers, burnout, etc.

Poverty – Just the Facts....

Individuals on Ontario Works receive $620/month, less actual income than they received before the Harris Government 22% cuts to Social Assistance in the mid 90’s. (are 60% below the poverty line)

Individuals on ODSP fare a little better in income but are on benefits because of health and disability issues which can require a larger portion of their meagre income each month.

They also experience extreme vulnerability when it comes to access re: special diet supports and often face barriers to transportation.

Poverty – Just the Facts....

Why are People Using Food banks?

◦# 1. Inadequate incomes

Minimum wage (19% below LICO) Social Assistance (60% below LICO) Rising Costs of Everything in the midst of fixed

incomes Prevalence of precarious work that doesn’t allow

people to pay the bills Forced reliance on Money Marts and Temp. Agencies

that exploit the poor and working class

Poverty – Just the Facts....

Why are People Using Food banks?

# 1. Lack of Affordable Housing and Costs of Housing

Erosion of government commitment to building affordable housing.

Long waiting lists for subsidized housing options, in many cases 8-10 years long.

Poverty – Just the Facts....

# 2. Housing Costs (continued)

- Households are considered to have a housing affordability problem if more than 30 percent of household income is spent on housing costs.

(Health Status Indicators Report – Public Health, York Region Community and Health Services Dept. 2007)

In 2006, 48 percent of tenant-occupied residences in York Region spent 30 percent or more of their household income on housing costs. 2006 Census: (Where’s Home?2008 Ontario Non Profit Housing Association( ONPHA) and Cooperative Housing Federation) (CHF)

Poverty – Just the Facts....

# 2. Housing Costs (continued)

If you spend more than 50% of your gross income on housing (rent, electricity, heat and municipal services), then you are at a higher risk of homelessness. You are also at significant risk of experiencing chronic illness, depression, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Over 22% of tenants in York, spend more than half of their income on rent.

People who access food banks spend on average, 60% of their total income on housing (Hunger in the Midst of Prosperity Report, YRFN 2008)

Poverty – Just the Facts....

Why are People Using Food banks?

#3. Increasing costs of student tuition/debt

#4. Skewed tax structure Low corporate taxes (corporate welfare) Unpaid corporate taxes reducing government revenues Prevalence of the notion that TAX is a 4-letter word Regressive Tax System where the wealthy enjoy the

benefits

-

Poverty – Just the Facts....

◦Learning about the Issues…

◦Talk about it and encourage others to engage in conversations…

◦Political Advocacy Letter writing Petitions Visits to MPPs office Minimum Wage actions on the 14th of Each Month Social Media Joining with likeminded coalitions and grassroots groups,

unions around issues that affect all of us.-

What can WE DO?

Freedom 90

What can we learn from this experience to inform our efforts?

-

A Case Study in Grassroots Activism...

F-90 was launched in June 2011 as a result of other anti-poverty efforts to increase the amount of social assistance for individuals living on Ontario Works.

As Advocates we were seeking new ways to convey the message that adequate incomes were at the root of poverty and that our government needed to step up to the challenge and stop relying on charity

We needed public support for this sentiment which is not easy to achieve

Freedom 90….Where it all Began

We began to recognize that many volunteers were concerned about the inability of food banks to keep pace with the growing needs, despite claims by corporations and food bank advocates that they could “put a dint in hunger”.

Many if not most of these volunteers were seniors and had been doing this work for a very long time.

We had found our New Voice….

Freedom 90….Looking for Allies

Freedom 90 Union Members are a new and powerful voice for change.

Volunteers at food banks and emergency meal programs have earned the right to speak out about poverty in the communities they work and live in

As Volunteers they are respected in their communities for the work they’ve done and what they have to share

The Freedom 90 Union demands urgent action by the Government of Ontario to: end poverty, make food banks and emergency meal programs unnecessary and let them retire before they reach 90.

Freedom 90 ….A New Voice

Lay us off! The Government of Ontario must ensure that social assistance and minimum wage levels are sufficient for everyone to have adequate housing and to buy their own food.

Mandatory retirement by the age of 90!Many of us have been volunteering for twenty years and there is no end in sight. The Freedom 90 Union demands the Government of Ontario take urgent action to end poverty and make food banks and emergency meal programs obsolete.

Freeze our wages! Or double them!It doesn’t matter because we are unpaid volunteers. And BTW we have paid our dues.

The Freedom 90 Union Has Three Demands

For 20 years, Alf has put in on average 50 hours/week coordinating the Sutton food bank which has grown and can still not meet the increasing needs in Georgina..

Freedom 90 Volunteer, Alf Judd1st Retiree of F-90 Steering Committee

Freedom 90 – Our Membership across Ontario –

AncasterCambridgeCobourgCornwallDon MillsDundasFort ErieGuelphHamiltonHastingsHuntsville

L'OriginalNewmarketParry SoundPort StanleySmith FallsSudburyThunder BayTorontoTottenhamVal CaronWelland

We currently have a membership of over 150 volunteers from programs across the province

We have received the attention of the UN Rapporteur for Food Security who visited Canada in May 2012

We have had several interviews and news spots with the Star, other community newspapers and CBC Radio.

We have presented to various food security and social justice groups and have a requests on the table now for presentations in the upcoming months.

Freedom 90 – Our Successes -

As a group committed to justice and income adequacy our involvement is welcomed in many places and with many other groups

◦ The OFL and Common Front Steering Committee◦ The Ontario Raise the Minimum Wage Campaign Steering

Committee◦ ISARC – Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Commission◦ Continued Membership in the PFIB provincial Steering

Committee◦ Citizens for Public Justice and the Dignity for All Campaign

2013

Freedom 90 – Reaching Out-

Should food banks last forever?

That’s the question one provincial group is asking during the annual Thanksgiving food drives currently in motion across the Province. Freedom 90 an association of food banks and emergency meal program volunteers says there should be an end to the need for food banks and emergency meal programs in Ontario a province wealthy enough to supply its residents with adequate nourishment.

October 5, 2012

Farewell to Foodbanks ?? Article in Sentinel Review - Woodstock Newspaper

“We think it s a disgrace a country like Canada has food banks” said Teresa Porter a 70 year old soup kitchen volunteer from New market. “It was supposed to be a temporary measure it’ s not. It’s a black mark for Canada”

The group comprising elderly volunteers calls for fair wages or the necessary amount of assistance that would allow local residents the freedom to buy their own food. We don t need a separate segregated food system when we already have a grocery stores she said We think they shoud go to the grocery store like anyone else.

Farewell to Foodbanks – Article in Sentinel Review - Woodstock Newspaper on

Corporations and Food Bank advocates take issue with our approach as a threat to the willingness of individuals to purchase food products and donate to the food banks.

Experienced Researchers who have been studying and writing about food insecurity in Canada and other first world nations for years, who recognize the proliferation and corporation of food banks as a threat to social justice and serious efforts to end poverty, have taken notice of our message and want to work with us to expand the reach of the F-90 Campaign.

Freedom – 90How We Know We are on the Right Path

We Continue to attract media attention across Canada, in the US (7 new members and friends) and internationally, in Great Britain.

Guardian Newspaper – May 28, 2013 http://www.freedom90.ca/news/news.html

Patrick Butler's Cuts Blog

Poverty: 50 ways to close a food bank

◦ As food banks struggle to cope with rising demand, they - and politicians - could learn valuable lessons from volunteers in Canada about the precarious nature of charity food provision.Curiously, 50 Ways to Close the Food Bank is not sung by impatient young Marxists, but wise old mainstays of the community in Sudbury, Ontario. The "big society", if you like. For years they have been volunteers at the local food banks. And they've had enough.

Freedom – 90How We Know We are on the Right Path

May 23, 2013Civil Eats - Promoting critical thought about sustainable

agriculture and food systemsFreedom 90: The Rebellion of the Canadian Church

Ladies

What if the little old ladies who run the neighbourhood church food pantry rebelled? What if they said "we're 70 years old, we've been feeding people for 20 years, and hell if we want to do it for another 20?" What if they demanded that the government reduce the incidence of poverty so that food pantries don't need to exist in the first place? Hard to imagine? Well, that's exactly what has happened in the province of Ontario.

Freedom – 90How We Know We are on the Right Path

October 17th is the International Day forthe Eradication of Poverty, and Dignity for All

is asking food bank, meal program, shelterworkers/volunteers and social justice advocatesto add their voice and unique experiences to a

call for a national poverty elimination strategy.

chewonthis2013@gmail.com  

Dignity for All – Chew on This

Growing our Volunteer Membership and our Friends of F-90 membership across the province.

Building Alliances with like minded people, unions, community organizations and faith based groups working for social change.

Working with respected researchers in the field to determine and expose the true and increasing costs of the second rate food infrastructure in our province and its inability to even be an effective band aid any longer, to the growing problem of poverty .

(Refer to Sweet Charity by Janet Poppendieck, 1980’s in the US)

Freedom 90 Goals for the Future

We would like to Thank You for this Opportunity to present our Campaign today

We welcome your Support and being able to work together to Create a More Fair and Equitable Ontario for Everyone

Freedom - 90…In closing…

What do you see as obstacles/barriers to this work?

What fears and prevailing myths do you see making this work a bit of an uphill battle at time?

 What do you need?

Obstacles and Challenges