The lunch program is full
From the headlines
- Personal bankruptcies surge 51 per cent, Toronto Star, August 12, 2009
"Most Canadians, given where interest rates are, won't have a major problem meeting their financial commitments. The issue is around unemployment".
- Craig Alexander, deputy chief economist at TD Economics - T.O. jobless rate 10%, Toronto Sun, August 8, 2009
"Toronto's unemployment rate reached 10.7% in July, its highest level since November 1994."
- Vincent Ferrau, Statistics Canada analyst
Increased demand at United Way agencies across the city
- Family Service Toronto says more two-parent families are seeking job assistance because one or both parents have lost their jobs.
- Neighbourhood Link is seeing a significant rise in the number of clients applying for employment programs—up23% from last year.
- Northwood Neighbourhood Services says twice as many people are asking to participate in the agency’s free bread program.
- JVS Toronto is seeing an increase in clients with high levels of education/qualifications who are seeking employment supports.
- Jobstart Toronto has seen a 16% increase in new visitors over last year.
More people need more services than ever before
Jobstart Toronto has seen a 16% increase in new visitors over last year.
We recently asked United Way member agencies to tell us about what they are seeing 'on the ground' meeting needs from individuals and families affected by the economic downturn. As many described their struggles to deliver services amid a rapidly growing demand for help, the word "increase" was the common denominator:
marked increase… great increase… serious increase… significant increase….
Then, from one of our agencies, we learned this: "the lunch program is full … people are very hungry and needy" and these eleven short words said it all.
Without a doubt this is the most challenging time faced by agencies in our lifetimes. The effects of the economic downturn are many and severe, including rising job losses, uncertainty about the future, acute financial distress, lack of food, loss of shelter and the inevitable emotional stress on families and children.
It’s about jobs, food and shelter
United Way member agencies are doing everything they can to rise to the challenge and to meet the needs of increasing numbers of people who have nowhere else to turn.
Agencies providing job related services are responding with a variety of initiatives. For example, off-site employment coaching and skills training, workshops on financial literacy and job searching, increased opportunities for networking, as well as workshops to help people deal with stress.
Multi-service agencies whose services may include family resource programs, housing help, emergency, food, shelter and financial assistance are also responding as best they can, stretching their funds to meet escalating daily needs.
At United Way, we are doing everything possible to meet both today’s urgent needs and to address the underlying causes of our social problems. We firmly believe that we are all in this together, and that together, we can work to address our shared challenges. Together, we must.
The lunch program is full was a Feature Story in our quarterly newsletter, Community Matters: Summer 2009
Read a story about a United Way Toronto agency that is helping fight hunger: Good food markets tackle food insecurity.
