University students in Edmonton feeling the pinch amid rising food insecurity and increased cost of living.
The struggle to make ends meet is real for both Canadian and international students at the University of Alberta. The U of A campus food bank is sounding the alarm as the demand for food banks grows especially before the holiday season.
“It has been harder than ever to be a student,” said Abdul Abbasi, Vice President external, University of Alberta students’ union.
The University of Alberta campus food bank claim a 600 percent increase in demand in the past five years. This mirrors new survey released Monday by Food Banks Canada, which reported more than two million visits during its study this year, nearly double the monthly visits a half decade ago.
“Five years ago, we were serving less than 200 families per month and we’re now approaching 1200 families per month, “said Erin O’neil, Executive Director, campus food bank.
Food Banks Canada annual survey showed rapid inflation, housing costs and insufficient social supports are to blame for driving poverty and food insecurity.
“The main reason students are using campus food bank is housing increase. The tuition has been increasing in the past five years, at the same time the cost of living has been increasing,” said Abbasi.
“It’s a crisis level at this point. If we were to continue serving the number of clients that we currently serve over the next two years, we would cease operations in all likelihood,” said O’neil.
It’s not just students looking for food, those with jobs are also often looking to food banks to fill their barren cupboards.
“We have the most two income earning households coming to food banks now than we ever did before. So that’s telling you that people that were making it before are struggling right now,” said Tamisan Bencz-Knight, Manager of strategic relationships & partnerships, Edmonton Food Bank.
As the demand for food banks soars, Edmonton food banks are calling for an immediate action from both the province and federal government.
“More provincial funding for the university would absolutely translate into a decreased need among our clients,” said O’neil.
We are calling upon all levels of government, all political parties that they have the ability to make changes, we need immediate change,” said Bencz-Knight.
Food banks Canada’s report also calling on governments to introduce measures that include rent assistance and a monthly payment to low income groups to help off-set rent and food costs.