Peter Kerek Asks:
Food Banks first started appearing in Canada in the early 1980's - and their usage has only increased since then. Why do you think Food Banks have become a permanent institution in Canada, even though we live in a country that has no shortage of food? And what systemic changes need to occur to eliminate the need for Food Banks?
We are in a 30+ yr homelessness cycle that started in the 1980's with the interest rate increases and that is why food banks started. The previous homelessness cycle was in the great depression. Unfortunately we have seen the gap in wealth growing since and that has perpetuated the problem. Since that time we have had other economic problems that have only made the problems worse. Another factor is more than ever before people are living in urban centers where costs of living are higher and it is harder to make ends meet. People are disconnected from each other and the land that sustains them. This is a global problem.
Canada is the only G8 country in the world that does not have a national housing strategy. That would be a great place to start. I think we need to push for more people to people connectivity and more people to landbase to also help meet the challenge of eliminating poverty and homelessness. More access to community gardens and more affordable housing options, like carriage homes, micro homes, etc., would also be helpful and that is something I know can be done at a municipal level.
Lastly, but vitally important. We need to give everyone hope that they can get ahead IF they are willing to work for it. Less handouts and more hand ups. People need to gain self worth and the only proven method I know is to work or serve others. People need to be accountable.
My grandfather arrived in Canada in 1925 from Communist Russia. He had no social safety net, did not speak English or French, and had no home or anything other than a drive to improve himself. He did whatever it took to become successful, and he did. He prided himself on that fact, that he did it all himself. Many others like him worked hard to build our country. People today have a lot more than he ever did and yet they fail? Perhaps they need to work harder and we need to stop the handouts in favour of handups. It worked for many generations.