Poverty

Food Banks BC executive director Dan Huang-Taylor said he was not surprised but nonetheless disappointed that B.C. received a grade of D-plus in Food Banks Canada’s 2024 Poverty Report Card. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s poor grade in 2024 poverty survey ‘concerning,’ says food bank head

B.C. Premier David Eby says issues around affordability ‘serious and on-going’ in commenting on report

 

Food insecurity among British Columbians has been growing according to a new report that gives B.C. a D-plus tracking poverty. B.C.received a failing grade in several areas, but the report also handed out a B for efforts by government to deal with poverty. (Submitted photo)

Food bank report fails B.C. on several poverty tests, but commends efforts

Food Banks Canada tracking poverty gives B.C. an overall D-plus

 

Poverty and food security among children living in lone-parent households was on the rise in 2022, according to new figures from Statistics Canada. (Black Press Media file photo).

Child poverty spikes dramatically in B.C. single-mom families: StatsCan

Overall poverty rates and food insecurity up, while median after-tax incomes down

 

Sheila Malcolmson, here seen in July 2023 in Surrey, said new poverty goals tabled Tuesday are “both ambitious and realistic.” (Anna Burns/Surrey Now-Leader)

B.C.’s new poverty goals both ‘realistic and ambitious,’ says minister

B.C. to cut poverty rate by 60 per cent, child poverty by 75 per cent and seniors’ poverty by 50 per

Sheila Malcolmson, here seen in July 2023 in Surrey, said new poverty goals tabled Tuesday are “both ambitious and realistic.” (Anna Burns/Surrey Now-Leader)
The rate of childhood poverty in B.C. saw a sharp increase in 2021, despite an overall downward trend, the latest report card from First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society found. (Lachlan Labere/Black Press Media)

B.C. child poverty rate increases for first time in a decade: advocacy group

Report card finds 14.3% of B.C. children lived in poverty in 2021, up from 13.3% in 2020

The rate of childhood poverty in B.C. saw a sharp increase in 2021, despite an overall downward trend, the latest report card from First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society found. (Lachlan Labere/Black Press Media)
Salvation Army Major Michael Ramsay helps a student load a box of food into the Salvation Army truck at Alberni District Secondary School on Tuesday, Nov. 28. A new survey commissioned by the Salvation Army found almost seven out of 10 British Columbians faced food challenges last year. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

Nearly 7 of 10 British Columbians face food challenges, survey finds

Sally Ann survey finds 1 in 5 British Columbians concerned about having enough cash for basic needs

Salvation Army Major Michael Ramsay helps a student load a box of food into the Salvation Army truck at Alberni District Secondary School on Tuesday, Nov. 28. A new survey commissioned by the Salvation Army found almost seven out of 10 British Columbians faced food challenges last year. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
The Salvation Army Bayside Mission is shown in Barrie, Ont. on Thursday, Oct.12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Drost

Basic needs a concern for 1 in 4 Canadians, new poll says

For single parents, ratio is nearly 1 in 2, according to survey commissioned for the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army Bayside Mission is shown in Barrie, Ont. on Thursday, Oct.12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Drost
According to anecdotal evidence collected by Food Banks BC, more post-secondary students in B.C. are turning toward food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)

Food Banks BC sees ‘notable’ increase in food bank use on campuses

BC Greens are calling on government to help more students

According to anecdotal evidence collected by Food Banks BC, more post-secondary students in B.C. are turning toward food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)
A volunteer at the Surrey Food Bank in 2022 sets up food for clients. A new poverty report card from Food Banks Canada shows B.C.’s unaffordable housing market is just one of the reasons why the province is barely passing. (Lauren Collins)

B.C. gets a D+ in Food Banks Canada’s poverty report card

Inaugural release shows B.C.’s housing market is ‘big factor’ in rising food insecurity rates

A volunteer at the Surrey Food Bank in 2022 sets up food for clients. A new poverty report card from Food Banks Canada shows B.C.’s unaffordable housing market is just one of the reasons why the province is barely passing. (Lauren Collins)
Disability Without Poverty created bleakmarket.com, a landing page filled with listings meant to “evoke the dark web” to show how some Canadians have had to resort to selling essential items to make ends meet. (bleakmarket.com)

Canadians living with disabilities forced to sell essential items just to survive: Advocacy group

Website highlights lack of awareness, calls on government to pass Canada Disability Benefit Act

Disability Without Poverty created bleakmarket.com, a landing page filled with listings meant to “evoke the dark web” to show how some Canadians have had to resort to selling essential items to make ends meet. (bleakmarket.com)
Salmon Arm’s Nan Gray sits with some of her preserves, ‘yellow’ cans, and bags of frozen foods, which have been staples of her frugal diet for years. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Stone soup’: B.C. woman reflects on stretching food dollars amid high inflation

Salmon Arm woman learned many ways to ensure access to enough food

Salmon Arm’s Nan Gray sits with some of her preserves, ‘yellow’ cans, and bags of frozen foods, which have been staples of her frugal diet for years. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
A British Columbia advocacy organization says child poverty decreased in the province in 2020 due to government benefits launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the progress may be wiped out by rising living costs. A silhouette against the sky of a man holding a child in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, June 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charlie Riedel

Pandemic benefits pushed down B.C.’s child poverty rate in 2020: advocacy group

Report shows 2020 child poverty rate was 13.3 per cent, a decrease from 18 per cent in 2019

A British Columbia advocacy organization says child poverty decreased in the province in 2020 due to government benefits launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the progress may be wiped out by rising living costs. A silhouette against the sky of a man holding a child in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, June 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charlie Riedel
Many people on social assistance won’t get their December cheques until after Christmas. (Pixabay)

Social Services cheques stuck in the mail due to weather; many won’t arrive until after Christmas

Mail delivery of monthly cheques interrupted by erratic winter storm patterns

Many people on social assistance won’t get their December cheques until after Christmas. (Pixabay)
Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. Canadian food insecurity researchers say holiday appeals for people to donate to their local food banks can be tough swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Why anti-poverty researchers bristle at holiday appeals for food bank donations

Addressing hunger requires systemic changes, researchers say

Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. Canadian food insecurity researchers say holiday appeals for people to donate to their local food banks can be tough swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
A digital-only coupon for Pampers brand baby wipes is displayed at a Kroger in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2022. A coalition of consumer groups is calling on grocers to stop offering digital-only deals, saying they discriminate against people without smartphones or regular internet access.(AP Photo/Dee-Ann Durbin)

Consumer groups want grocers to ditch digital-only deals

Equity concerns after study found that 25% of Americans 65 or older don’t use the internet

A digital-only coupon for Pampers brand baby wipes is displayed at a Kroger in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2022. A coalition of consumer groups is calling on grocers to stop offering digital-only deals, saying they discriminate against people without smartphones or regular internet access.(AP Photo/Dee-Ann Durbin)
Living on B.C.’s below-poverty levels of disability assistance and already in debt means every treatment brings a Vancouver woman closer to running out of money and choosing the option to die. (Pixabay photo)

‘Jump or burn?’: B.C. woman is chronically ill, but dying of poverty

System will fund Medical Assistance in Dying but not treatments that help chronic fatigue syndrome

  • Nov 17, 2022
Living on B.C.’s below-poverty levels of disability assistance and already in debt means every treatment brings a Vancouver woman closer to running out of money and choosing the option to die. (Pixabay photo)
Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem says the country’s economic slowdown will impact low income earners the most. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Slowdown will impact low-income earners most, says Bank of Canada governor

Tiff Macklem spoke at conference on diversity, equity Monday

Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem says the country’s economic slowdown will impact low income earners the most. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Food bank usage across Canada hit all-time high, nearly 1.5M visits in March: report

Numbers 35 per cent higher than visits in March 2019, before the pandemic hit

Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Fartum Issack, right, and her husband, Adan, stand by the grave of their 1-year-old daughter at a displacement camp on the outskirts of Dollow, Somalia, on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. The graveyard opened in April, and there's easily room for hundreds more graves. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

‘So many children dying’: Somalia drought brings famine near

Drought has astonished resilient herders and farmers by lasting four failed rainy seasons

Fartum Issack, right, and her husband, Adan, stand by the grave of their 1-year-old daughter at a displacement camp on the outskirts of Dollow, Somalia, on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. The graveyard opened in April, and there's easily room for hundreds more graves. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Villagers gather during a visit by United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, in the village of Lomoputh in northern Kenya, May 12, 2022. More than 50 million people in the wider East African region are expected to face acute food insecurity this year, a regional bloc said Friday July 22, 2022, warning that some 300,000 in Somalia and South Sudan are projected to be under full-blown famine conditions. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)

UN food chief warns Horn of Africa famine imminent, if global crises left unchecked

The head of the World Food Program is urging countries to follow…

Villagers gather during a visit by United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, in the village of Lomoputh in northern Kenya, May 12, 2022. More than 50 million people in the wider East African region are expected to face acute food insecurity this year, a regional bloc said Friday July 22, 2022, warning that some 300,000 in Somalia and South Sudan are projected to be under full-blown famine conditions. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)