Jeff Yurek, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London 750 Talbot Street, Suite 201 St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 1E2 Dear Mr. Jeff Yurek, Elgin St. Thomas Public Health has released its report for 2016 on Addressing Food Insecurity in St. Thomas and Elgin County. The report highlights the difficulties in accessing a nutritious, adequate and culturally appropriate diet for many in our community. For example, to feed a family of four, a family needs to spend $865 each month. After food and housing costs, families on social assistance are left with only $358 for heat, hydro, telephone, child care, transportation, hygiene costs, clothing, and all other expenses. Another scenario would be an individual on social assistance required to spend $489 on rent and $291 on food is in debt by $12 a month before paying for any other basic needs. Social assistance rates are not adequate and need to be raised, indexed to inflation and reflective of the costs of living in the Elgin St. Thomas region.

Many citizens in this area experience food insecurity. When money is tight, the quality and amount of food obtained is often a last priority, resulting in a poor diet. Food insecurity results in many unfavourable health outcomes. Decreased physical health and mental health are only few of the countless negative effects of being food insecure. Steps must be taken to help ensure food security in Elgin St. Thomas to help create a healthy community for all. Food banks only represent a temporary solution; long-term actions are required. Action must be taken from the top down, with the main focus of reducing poverty, the root cause of food insecurity.

A positive first step to addressing food insecurity is ensuring that all people have Basic Income Guarantee. Thankfully, the Ontario government is piloting the Basic Income Guarantee as a policy option for reducing poverty and food insecurity along with revision to Bill 6. This bill will ensure social assistance rates reflect regional costs of living, including the cost of a nutritious diet, and are aligned to inflation and reviewed on a yearly basis. I urge you to consider the well-being of citizens of your riding and play an active role advocating for food security in Elgin St. Thomas. With the developments surrounding Bill 6, food insecurity is currently a topic of political concern. Mr. Yurek, as a political member you have influence to make a meaningful change in this area. Food is a basic necessity and accessing healthy food allows people to have better health outcomes. Please use your power to help change the lives of people who cannot afford to feed themselves and their family a nutritious diet.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

elginhealth.on.ca

Household Food Insecurity

Social Determinants

of Health

Taking Action

The Nutritious

Food Basket

Addressing Food Insecurity IN ST. THOMAS AND ELGIN COUNTY

2 0 1 6

“Food security exists in a household when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. “ World Food Summit, 1996Household

Food InsecurityIn St. Thomas and Elgin County, household food insecurity exists as an economic problem. Without sufficient incomes, households may find themselves struggling to obtain a healthy and adequate diet.

Income:Median household income is $54 411 (2011)

47-52% of residents live below the Living Wage for Elgin St. Thomas*

16% live below the After Tax Low-Income Measure (2010)

20% of children 10% of seniors

Housing:When households spend more than 30% of their income on housing, it may be challenging for them to afford other basic needs such as food.

A significant portion of households in St. Thomas and Elgin County pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs (2011)

19% of homeowners

42% of renters

14% of renters live in subsidized housing (2011)

Education:On average, the highest level of education for those in the workforce (25-64 year olds) is lower in St. Thomas and Elgin County compared to Ontario (2011) 17% have less than a high school diploma (11% Ontario) 31% only have a high school diploma (29% Ontario) 39.6% have a college or university degree (52.5% Ontario)

Social Determinants

of Health

*Represents households experiencing moderate and severe food insecurity at the provincial level. This value may be an under-representation as it does not include marginally food insecure households. Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2011-2014.

Prevalence:In 2011-2014, 9.5% of households in Elgin St. Thomas, experienced food insecurity*.

As incomes increase, the prevalence of food insecurity decreases

Those at Greatest Risk:Households with children under 18; especially female lone parents

Unattached, single people

Low-income households

Health Outcomes:Adults and children who are food insecure have poorer physical and mental health:

Food insecure children are more likely to experience chronic health conditions, depression, and suicide ideation and attempts

Food insecure adults are more likely to experience diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease

*The 2014 Living Wage calculation for Elgin St. Thomas was a household be-fore-tax income of $64 231.

Social determinants of health are important factors that impact the health of individuals and popu-lations. Factors such as income, housing, and education compound the burden of food insecurity.

The Nutritious

Food Basket

The Nutritious Food Basket survey provides an estimate of

the cost of healthy eating. The cost is determined by pricing

67 food items from grocery stores in the area and calculating

the average lowest retail price. The Nutritious Food Basket

measures the cost of a healthy diet that meets recommenda-

tions from Canada’s Food Guide.

The following scenarios mirror what residents in St. Thomas and Elgin County have to face. When incomes don’t leave enough money for all

basic needs, individuals have to rely on coping strategies. These include eating less to stretch the food budget, eating unhealthy foods that are

cheaper, buying food on credit, borrowing food, and relying on food banks and emergency food services.

Households with Children Single Person Households

Family of 4, Ontario Works

Family of 4, Full-time Minimum

Wage

Family of 4, Average Canadian Income

Single Parent with

2 Children, Ontario Works

One Person, Ontario Works

One Person, Ontario

Disability Support Program

One Person, Old Age Security /

Guaranteed Income

Supplement

IncomeTotal Monthly Income(After Tax)

$2 227 $2 940 $7 448 $2 016 $768 $1 206 $1 563

Expenses

Average Monthly Rent

3 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 2 Bedroom Bachelor 1 Bedroom 1 Bedroom

$1 004 $1 004 $1 004 $794 $489 $656 $656

Monthly Food Cost $865 $865 $865 $654 $291 $291 $212

Monthly Income Remaining for Other Expenses

$358 $1 071 $5 579 $568 -$12 $259 $695% of Income for Rent 45% 34% 13% 39% 64% 54% 42%

% of Income for Food

39% 29% 12% 32% 38% 24% 14%

For 2016, the cost of eating a healthy diet for a family of four in St. Thomas and Elgin County is $865/month**.

Nutritious Food Basket 2016 Scenarios:

**Reference family of four, includes a 31-50 year-old male, a 31-50 year-old female, a 14-18 year-old make, and a 4-8 year-old female. Other types of households may have different costs.

Taking ActionPublic health interventions can have a significant impact on public health. These interventions often occur at 3 levels: downstream, midstream, and upstream.

ReferencesDietitians of Canada. Prevalence, severity and

Impact of household food insecurity: a serious public health issue. Toronto (ON); Dietitians of Canada. 2016. 55 p. Available from: http://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Public/HFI-Background-DC-FINAL.aspx.

Kirkpatrick SI, Tarasuk V. Housing circumstances are associated with household food access among low-income urban families. J Urban Health. 2011;88(2):284-96. doi: 10.1007/s11524-010-9535-4.

McIntyre L, Dutton DJ, Kwok C, Emery JCH.Reduction of food insecurity among low-income Canadian seniors as a likely impact of a guaranteed annual income. Canadian Public Policy. 2016;42(3):274-86. doi: 10.3138/cpp.2015-069.

Tarasuk V, Cheng J, de Oliveira C, Dachner N,Gundersen C, Kurdyak P. Association between household food insecurity and annual health care costs. CMAJ. 2015;187(14):E429-36. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.150234.

Tarasuk V, Mitchell A, Dachner N. HouseholdFood Insecurity in Canada, 2014. Research to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF). 2016. Available from: http://proof.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Household-Food-Insecurity-in-Canada-2014.pdf.

519-631-9900www.elginhealth.on.ca

1230 Talbot Street, St Thomas, ON N5P 1G9 P: 1.800.922.0096 F: 519:633.0468 elginhealth.on.ca

Downstream:Downstream approaches focus on removing barriers to programs and services that promote healthy eating and access to food. These approaches focus on reducing the acute effects of hunger, rather than addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity. Downstream approaches include:

Food banks and emergency food services

Community meals

Low cost meals

Student nutrition programs

The Good Food Box

Midstream:Midstream-level approaches may improve access to nutritious food, which can ease the strain on food insecure individuals and households. These approaches also aim to develop food skills and knowledge at an individual and community level. Midstream approaches include:

Cooking programs

Community gardens

Community fruit tree gleaning programs

Upstream:Upstream-level approaches to poverty and food insecurity address the systems that create and maintain these problems. Current evidence suggests the need for solutions that address the root cause of food insecurity, which is poverty. Upstream approaches include:

Food Charters and Food Systems Plans

Advocating for increased social assistance rates

Advocating for increased funding for safe and affordable housing

Supporting the Ontario government in prioritizing the development and implementation of the Basic Income Guarantee pilot