The Relationship between Food Banks and Household Food Insecurity among Low-Income Toronto Families

Rachel Loopstra and Valerie Tarasuk

Canadian Public Policy, 2012, vol. 38, issue 4, 497-514

Abstract: In the absence of targeted public policy to address household food insecurity in Canada, food banks remain the dominant response, despite questions about their effectiveness. Interviews with 371 low-income Toronto families revealed that 75 percent had experienced some food insecurity, but only 23 percent had used a food bank; for most food bank users, food insecurity was a severe and chronic problem. Food-insecure families' reasons for not using food banks indicated resistance and, in some instances, access barriers. These results draw into question the apparent reliance of federal and provincial/territorial governments on food charity to alleviate food insecurity and highlight the need for a public policy response.

Date: 2012
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