The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is a food bank network in the Canadian province of Ontario. Founded in 1992, the OAFB represents 125 food banks, and over 1,100 hunger-relief organizations across the province, including: urban and rural food banks, community kitchens, breakfast clubs and school meal programs, community food centres, emergency shelters, and seniors' facilities. The mission of the Ontario Association of Food Banks is to "strengthen communities by providing food banks with food, resources, and solutions that address both short and long-term food insecurity."
Every year, the OAFB releases a research report on hunger and food bank use in Ontario. In 2015, the OAFB Hunger Report revealed:
358,963 people accessed food banks across Ontario in March 2015, with 120,554 of those clients being children under 18 years of age
35% increase in senior citizens visiting food banks over the previous year
49% of food bank clients are single-person households
90% of food bank clients are either rental or social housing tenants
Over 12% of senior citizens fall below Ontario’s Low Income Measure. This number more than doubles to 27% when looking at seniors who also identify as single
Senior citizens are expected to represent 23% of the population by 2030
Single person households represent almost 50% of those who visit food banks, an 11% increase over the past 5 years
The average food bank client spends 70% of their income on rent, leaving very little for all other necessities
1 in 3 jobs in Ontario is temporary, contract, or part-time. An individual working full time, at minimum-wage will have an annual income of approximately $21,000, falling well below Ontario’s Low Income Measure
In 2007, the OAFB has been noted for innovative programming by the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
