Halifax –
Food banks and other community groups in Nova Scotia are calling for an immediate increase in income support as more and more residents cannot afford housing and food.
Feed Nova Scotia’s executive director, Nick Genery, told the legislative committee today that the current income support rate is “well” below the poverty line.
Up to 45% of the people in his network who use food banks rely on their support as their main source of income, he says.
Genery says his network helped feed 20,000 residents this holiday season. This is the largest number of people in the history of the Christmas food program.
Christina Carter, executive director of Chebucto Connections, a community service nonprofit, said the organization’s job is getting harder as the cost of living rises and more residents are forced into homelessness. says.
Income subsidies need to be increased and linked to inflation to ensure that vulnerable people have enough food and shelter, Carter said.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published on January 10, 2023.
This article was produced with financial support from the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
