Food Banks Canada Responds to the Launch of Build Canada Homes
This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson announced the launch of the new Build Canada Homes agency to build more homes across Canada.
The lack of affordable housing has long been a key driver of food bank use. In recent years, that connection has only grown stronger. Since 2019, there’s been a 90% increase in the number of food bank visits, and over that same period the cost of housing increased by 30%. With housing pressures reaching critical levels, Food Banks Canada welcomes the creation of Build Canada Homes as a meaningful and necessary step forward.
We especially commend the government for the $1 billion investment to build transitional and supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and the commitment to build over 700 affordable and supportive housing units in Nunavut.
Food Banks Canada has long advocated for bold action to address the affordable housing crisis and for a Northern housing strategy that meets the region’s unique needs. We are pleased to see several of our policy recommendations reflected in this announcement, including the leveraging of government lands for conversion or development of affordable housing and the establishment of funding for non-profits to purchase and provide rental properties.
While this announcement signals significant progress, more must be done to ensure no one in Canada is forced to choose between housing and food. Food Banks Canada continues to urge the federal government to:
· Introduce a national rent assistance program, delivered collaboratively with the provinces and territories and modeled on Manitoba’s successful Rent Assist, to immediately relieve pressure on low-income renters.
· Work with the provinces to support a new fiscal relationship with cities and communities that would enable the elimination of all development charges.
As Build Canada Homes moves forward, Food Banks Canada remains committed to working alongside governments and communities to tackle the root causes of poverty, build a more affordable housing system, and create a Canada where no one goes hungry.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in
collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For over 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping people living in Canada with food insecurity. Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who – this year – made over 2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $1 billion in food supports and over $275 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.
