Brantford to declare food insecurity crisis

The City of Brantford is one step closer to becoming the fourth city in Ontario to declare a food insecurity emergency.

A resolution for the declaration was unanimously supported by councillors during a committee-of-the-whole meeting on Tuesday. City council is scheduled to vote on the decision on March 25.

The three other cities in the province to declare a food insecurity emergency are Toronto, Mississauga, and Kingston.

According to the Brant Community Foundation’s 2024 Vital Signs report, one in six Brantford households experienced food insecurity in 2023.

Brantford officials say that the primary cause of food insecurity is due to a lack of sufficient income to obtain food, housing, and other basic needs.

This is shown through an 86 per cent increase in the number of people using the Brantford Food Bank over the past four years.

With the high prices of groceries, ward 5 City Councillor Mandy Samwell says more people are relying on food banks and food programs.

That’s why she tabled a resolution to declare a food insecurity at Brantford’s committee meeting this week.

“Food insecurity is more than a crisis, it is an emergency,” she said. “We’re seeing more families, more people relying on food banks and it’s really not about food itself. It’s actually about a lack of income.”

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Many Brantford residents also rely on provincial and federal income programs such as Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, and Old Age Security, but councillors say the income provided through these programs has not kept up the rising costs of living.

Since 2018, social assistance rates for Ontario Works recipients has been frozen.

The Ontario Works benefit for a single person’s basic needs is $343 and $390 for shelter, totalling $733 a month. As the cost of living rises, councillors say there has been no increase or inflation-based adjustment.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that the average market rent for a bachelor apartment in Brantford is $984 and $1,215 for a one bedroom.

If the resolution is approved by council next week, it will be sent to federal and provincial party leaders, Brantford-Brant MP Larry Brock, Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma, and groups representing Ontario school boards and municipalities.

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