CUPS tenants face food access issues in the face of steep inflation

Here in Calgary, and across the country, food is more expensive than ever, with the sticker shock on store shelves, rendering many products either ‘grin and bear it’ or financially out of reach. Inflation has hit us all, yet for people living paycheck to paycheck, on Alberta Works, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) or on a pension, wellness is on the line when food is unaffordable.

Eggs for example, are off the table for some until prices settle. At $6 or $7 a dozen, they’re too expensive. Breanna Sutton, our interim team lead for community development, notes, rising costs, paired with low-income, leads to complexities when people must purchase a certain amount of food.

“A lot of my clients tell me they can’t afford as much as they could,” she said. “It’s not going as far.”

A single person on Alberta Works typically has $330 for the whole month, after subsidized rent is taken off. With other bills to pay (electricity, Internet etc.), what’s left might only cover a week’s worth of groceries. CUPS Community Development program offers support on-site in buildings operated by partner agency, Homespace Society. Food Bank referrals are part of this programming.

“Before COVID-19, you could get a hamper every 30 days and you could only do 7 referrals in a year,” she said. “Now, they can get a referral every 10 business days. I’ve seen a substantial increase.”

Within the Bowness building, referrals have jumped from two to three a month from 2017 to 2019 to eight, Sutton said. In other larger complexes (Acadia), that number has ballooned to 20. We’re on hand to help people, as referrals must go through an agency like CUPS after the third hamper of the year.

In Bowness, a new lower-cost option just opened — Canadian Superstore — which has been a godsend to tenants living in rent-assisted housing. There are also two food pantries in the community and in the building, tenants have access to dry foods like canned goods, mac and cheese, pasta, etc.

A pervasive issue in our city, food insecurity, is met head on by the organization iCAN for Kids, with CUPS among the organizations to receive monthly grocery cards, which are provided to tenants. In Acadia, we’re also extremely grateful to church volunteers for their efforts packing hampers each month.

“That’s been immensely helpful for our families to put food on the table,” Sutton said.

Finally, weekly/monthly dinners in CUPS buildings help feed people. They are welcome and anticipated events that also serve to reduce loneliness, isolation, and build a sense of community. CUPS purchases the ingredients, and resident cooks must have their Food Safe certification.

“One of my clients did a New Year’s Eve dinner,” Sutton said. “Turkey and mashed potatoes — I believe about half the building came, which is a pretty good sign that it’s needed.”

When new clients move into supported housing and set up electricity, the security deposit or get a credit check, these tasks are often barriers people need help crossing. In these cases, and others (struggling to pay bills) we’re able to help tenants through an application to CUPS’ Crisis Intervention or Basic Needs Fund.