Hunger in the GTA: People with disabilities.

 When a person has a disability it can affect many areas of that persons life. Many people in the GTA that have disabilities or special needs use food banks regularly. There are many things that we can do in our community to help those that suffer from hunger. Both the federal and provincial governments have implemented many strategies that are meant to help the hunger issue in Canada. 

Many people in the GTA that have disabilities or special needs suffer from hunger. Many research has shown that the food bank use in the GTA has gone up by 90% since 1995, and there has been a 5.2% increase since 2007. Some people who have a disability or special needs have a hard time fnding work due to them being sick, which in some cases leads to them struggling to afford food. Reasearch has also shown that 47% of people who use the food banks are people who either have a disability or have a serious illness.

Did you know that people can cause disease by illness? It can suddenly prevent a person from working or, if a disability or illness has been a lifelong diagnosis, it can prevent a person from entering the work-force once he or she is an adult. Unfortunately for some, disabilities can lead to experiencing poverty over a longer period of time. Illness is causing poverty because, when someone is sick, you don’t have to go to work. Poverty can cause illness by a lack of food, shelter, and clothing. From 2006-2016, people who are 45-64 years, there are 23% in 2006, and there is 28% in 2016. 

In 2006, a third of food bank clients were 18 and under; in 2016 a third are 45 years and over. In 2017, there are 469,270 women and 293,530 men with disabilities. Seniors with disabilities who are living in poverty have fewer needs for aids, devices, and likely to have unmet needs for aids, devices, and prescription medication due to cost. At the same time, however, seniors with disabilities, and those with more severe disabilities in particular, still face a higher risk of living in poverty than seniors without disabilities. For the situation of seniors, this article does not dig into a number of critical issues that may impact outcomes for seniors with disabilities. People who lived in terrible conditions (under the poverty line) are orphans and poor people. 

Now, the current statistics are people that are aged 45 to 64 years old has a population of 2,359,650 with disabilites. Disabilites related to 15% of pain, 10% of fexibility, 10% of mobility and 7% of mental health among Canadians that are 15 years and over in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Women or ladies have higher conditions of most types of disabilites.

Fighting for hunger means to me is to fight is to reduce poverty, and giving people more food. It means to me that we can donate food to food banks to help and support those who are in need of food.

Did you know the government of Ontario wanted to have things like growing the production of culturally diverse crops? The adequate law supply of high-quality lands to support vibrant aquaculture and agriculture production across the province ensures stewardship of our capacity for food production over the long term. Métis and First Nations partners have identified strategies to ensure this management extends to natural and traditional food resources. The provincial government of Ontario is providing healthcare and education programs. It helps people who live in the same province understand the value and benefits of high-quality and nutritious foods: They include;Ontario’s Healthy Kids Strategy, Student Nutrition Program, Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL),Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program, Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario schools Indigenous Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program, Aboriginal Diabetes program, and Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living Program.

To reduce poverty, government ideas could include Means-tested welfare benefits to the poorest in society; for example, unemployment benefits, food stamps, income support, and housing benefits. Most important thing is the government want to improve Canada’s standing on the world stage. That could mean a much more active role in international development. Hunger is a cause of climate change, for people with disabilites. It helps poor people adapt to the changes. The fredral government had promised poverty reduction. Hunger is linked to poverty because, some people are poor in this country. Hunger and food insecurity affects people with disabilites or special needs (Mental Health) in the GTA. People with diasbilites have higher rates of food insecurity. 

As a country we need to work together to help those in need of food. Many people including those with disabilities are greatly effected due to physical and mental disabilities.