Food bank survey sheds light on clientele

More and more people each month are relying on the Edmonton Food Bank, and the increase this summer had staff scrambling to replenish dwindling supplies.

In spring, the food bank interviewed 402 clients in an attempt to better understand why people depend on its services and how food security could be improved. The results of the survey, published Wednesday, reveal a clientele that pays market rate for housing, has some higher education and is not typically relying on any other support services.

When asked to explain why they lacked money for groceries during the month, food bank users gave three main reasons: Lack of employment, the high cost of living and poor budgeting skills.

Here are some facts from the food bank’s 2015 client survey:

15,580 The number of individuals served by the food bank per month this year, up from 13,687 per month in 2013. That’s an increase of nearly 14 per cent, which is much higher than the city’s population increase ( about six per cent from 2013 to 2015).

66 Percentage of food bank users surveyed who are women. Thirtyfive per cent of respondents said they are single parents providing for their families, and 40 per cent of the individuals served by the food bank are children.

34 Percentage of food bank users who self- identified as aboriginal. Edmonton has an aboriginal population of about five per cent. $

1,111 Average rent and utilities paid by survey respondents per month. At least 53 per cent reported spending more than half of their income on shelter. Most paid market rate for rent; just 17 per cent said they lived in subsidized housing.

70 Percentage of surveyed clients who said they were not connected to any other social service agency in Edmonton. Marjorie Bencz, the food bank’s longtime executive director, said the organization is now working to expand its partnerships with other agencies.

$ 25,000 More than half of survey respondents reported their annual household incomes to be less than $ 25,000.

42 Percentage of food banks who have enrolled in higher education. Respondents indicated they have attended college, university or trades schools. Though just three per cent indicated they have a postgraduate education, food bank usage at Alberta’s universities is on the rise.

1/ 3 ( or 34 per cent) Number of respondents who said they skipped meals so that their children could eat.

85 Percentage of respondents who said they depended on the food bank regularly for their groceries.

$ 500 Forty- three per cent of people surveyed said they could become food secure if they had up to $ 500 more income per month.