Access to healthy food continues to be a problem for many low-income households locally says the Health Unit.
The Cost of Healthy Eating Report 2016 shows that in the area serviced by the Health Unit, a family of four receiving Ontario Works spends about 90% of their monthly income on rent and food.
This leaves only $229 for heat, hydro, telephone, child care, transportation, clothing, out of pocket health costs, and all other basic needs.
The Board of Health passed a Resolution last night calling on the provincial government to increase social assistance rates (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program) to reflect the costs of living in our community, including the cost of a nutritious diet.
“Many households in our area struggle to put food on the table. Social assistance rates are not meeting people’s basic needs and need to be increased to reflect the costs of living, including the cost of a healthy diet,” says Kendra Patrick, Public Health Dietitian.
In Ontario, 64% of households who rely on social assistance experience food insecurity.
Twelve percent of Ontario households struggle to put food on the table, even though 59% of these households have income from employment.
