Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Press Release: Nothing Says “Love” Like Ending Poverty

13 February 2025

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Urges Provincial Candidates to Step Up

This Valentine’s Day, forget the chocolates and roses—what our community really needs is action on food insecurity and poverty! With 1 in 4 households struggling to afford food and 30.7% of Ontario’s children living in food-insecure homes, love means fighting for real solutions.

“Food banks are working overtime, but they shouldn’t be the backbone of our social safety net,” said Jill Umbach of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force. “If we really care about each other, let’s fix the root issues—because you can’t eat a Valentine’s Day card.”

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Food Banks Are Overwhelmed, And We Need Help Too

Last year, the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force launched Income Solutions to Food Insecurity, a campaign advocating for sustainable, income-based solutions to hunger. It’s time to move beyond band-aid solutions and give our communities the stability they deserve.

What We’re Asking for (Besides More Chocolate)

The Poverty Task Force is calling on provincial candidates in an Open Letter to Provincial Candidates to put their money where their heart is by committing to:

  1. Strengthening Income Supports
    • Increase social assistance rates to reflect real living costs.
    • Stop using food banks as a replacement for proper income policies.
  2. Investing in Quality Jobs
    • Make sure workers earn a living wage.
    • Strengthen employment standards so people don’t have to work three jobs to survive.
    • Expand access to affordable childcare.
  3. Expanding Supportive and Transitional Housing
    • Invest in social and supportive housing, mental health services, and income supports.
    • Help people move from homelessness to stability—because home is where the heart is.

Candidates, Will You Be Our Valentine?

With the February 27 provincial election coming up, we’re putting candidates on the spot:

💘 Will you commit to real income solutions?
💘 Will you invest in long-term policies instead of temporary charity?

This Valentine’s Day, show some love to the people who need it most.

About the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force

For over 12 years, the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force has been advocating for policies that tackle poverty at its roots. We believe in love, dignity, and making sure everyone has enough to eat—because nothing kills the romance like an empty fridge.

To read our Open Letter and learn more go to: Poverty, Voting and Ontario Election – Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force

Vote with Your Heart

Voting is an act of love for your community. Visit https://www.elections.on.ca to check your voter registration and learn how to cast your vote in the February 27 election.

#votewithyourheart #incomesolutionstopoverty

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

News Release: Poverty Task Force Launches Series on Food Insecurity in Grey Bruce Counties

27 February 2024 – For Immediate Release

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force is launching a new series focused on income solutions to address food insecurity in Grey Bruce County. With 17.5% of households in the area struggling to afford food, this series aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those who are food insecure.

Food insecure households in Grey Bruce County are forced to make difficult decisions every day, such as choosing between paying for utilities, housing, food, prescriptions, or transportation. This often leads to worrying about running out of food before being able to afford more, compromising on food quality, skipping meals, or eating less when there isn’t enough money. These households also face higher risks of poor mental and physical health due to their struggles to pay for basic needs.

The 2023 Cost of Eating Well report from Grey Bruce Public Health shows how unaffordable basic needs like food and rent have become for some of our neighbours.

The Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and its partners are committed to addressing food insecurity in Grey Bruce County and believes that everyone deserves access to nutritious and affordable food. Through this series, we hope to shed light on the challenges faced by our community members and work towards finding income solutions to ensure that no one goes hungry.

For more information about the work of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and our mission to combat food insecurity please visit:  https://povertytaskforce.com/food-security/income-solutions-to-food-insecurity/

For more information about Grey Bruce Public Health’s 2023 Food Affordability and Cost of Eating Well Report please visit:  https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Eating-Well/Food-Affordability-and-Food-Insecurity