Need for U of A food bank soars amid rising food insecurity, increased cost of living
Erin O’Neil, Executive Director of the campus food bank, pointed to rising housing costs and tuition fees as primary contributors to this crisis.
University students in Edmonton are grappling with significant food insecurity and the rising cost of living, particularly as they approach the holiday season.
The University of Alberta's campus food bank is sounding the alarm on this growing crisis, reporting a staggering 600% increase in demand over the past five years.
Abdul Abbasi, Vice President External of the University of Alberta Students' Union, emphasized the challenges students face, stating, “It has been harder than ever to be a student.”
The food bank has seen its monthly clientele swell from fewer than 200 families to nearly 1,200, highlighting a broader trend reflected in a recent survey from Food Banks Canada, which noted over two million visits to food banks in 2024—nearly double the number from five years ago.
Erin O’Neil, Executive Director of the campus food bank, pointed to rising housing costs and tuition fees as primary contributors to this crisis.
“The main reason students are using the campus food bank is the increase in housing costs,” Abbasi added. O’Neil warned, “If we were to continue serving the number of clients that we currently serve over the next two years, we would cease operations in all likelihood.”
The trend isn't limited to students; even working households are increasingly relying on food banks to make ends meet. “We have the most two-income earning households coming to food banks now than we ever did before,” noted Tamisan Bencz-Knight, Manager of Strategic Relationships & Partnerships at the Edmonton Food Bank. This indicates that families who previously managed to sustain themselves are now struggling.
In light of the soaring demand, Edmonton food banks are calling for immediate action from both provincial and federal governments.
O’Neil stated that “more provincial funding for the university would absolutely translate into a decreased need among our clients,” while Bencz-Knight urged all political parties to take immediate steps to address the situation.
Food Banks Canada’s report also advocates for governmental measures, including rent assistance and monthly payments to low-income groups, to help mitigate the rising costs of rent and food.
