About one household in eight in Simcoe Muskoka is struggling with a shortage of money to put food on the table \u2014 a situation that has seen little change for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit\u2019s May 2017 survey of food and rent costs revealed some slight improvements in the amount of money available to cover these expenses for families living on minimum wage or Ontario Works, with these improvements primarily being a result of an increase in Canada Child Benefit payments to families with children.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a step in the right direction, although it\u2019s still not enough,\u201d said Jane Shrestha, public health nutritionist at the health unit. \u201cThe impact of the increase in child benefits shows that poverty is at the root of hunger, and that there are simple policy changes that will work.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes more than food to solve hunger,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
This holiday season, recognizing that policy solutions are needed to make sure everyone can put food on the table with dignity, the health unit\u2019s Cent$less campaign (\u201cNo money for food is Cent$less\u201d) is asking community members and local organizations to take an extra step beyond donating food.<\/p>\n