A report from the United Way of Bruce Grey and the local poverty task force shows that area food banks have seen a 92 per cent increase in visits in the last couple of years.
The report looks at visits between 2013 and 2015. In that period, food bank use increased from 13,500 visits to more than 26,000.
The data, taken from 14 out of 21 area food banks, indicates that 16 per cent of the population has accessed a food bank. While more food banks reported in, the increase in users cannot be strictly attributed to the additional four food banks’ data.
The reports points to the lack of stable full-time jobs as the reason for the increase.
About one in three jobs are temporary, contract or part time.
