Montreal food banks send clear message to Quebec: we want more funding
“We have about 100 to 150 people every month who are attempted to access services.”
Montreal’s community organizations tackling food insecurity are growing frustrated with what they say is a lack of attention from Premier François Legault’s government. They are now calling for an immediate increase in funding to address the rising demand for food assistance.
Tasha Lackman, executive director of the Depot Community Food Centre, explained during a press conference on Thursday, “We are unable to meet the spiking, skyrocketing demand.” She added, “We have about 100 to 150 people every month who attempt to access our services.”
At the community centre, shelves are half-empty, and Lackman says they are forced to turn people away daily as the demand continues to climb.
According to food banks in Montreal, more than 15 percent of the city’s population is facing food insecurity, compared to 11 percent in the rest of Quebec. These organizations report they have been providing over 20,000 food baskets annually, responding to a threefold increase in demand over the past three years.
Lackman highlighted the disparity in funding, saying, “The Depot gets about $150,000 a year, a small fraction of what we asked for. Just for Montreal, the increase in need was $160 million, and we got one percent of that as a sector.”
Due to limited resources, organizations have had to implement measures such as creating waiting lists, halving the size of food baskets, distributing them only once a month instead of bi-weekly, and reducing community restaurant hours.
Lackman concluded, “Our demand is an increase in mission-based funding for organizations working on food insecurity in Montreal, as well as for all organizations in the sector supporting community members.” She emphasized, “Organizations on the front lines know the solutions—we have the expertise, and we want to collaborate and be recognized for it.”
