Post-secondary students turn to food banks for first time amid high inflation

The high cost of food, gas, and other essentials is forcing a growing number of people to turn to food banks — and that includes post-secondary students.

Tristan, who doesn’t want his last name used, is among the 500 people who signed up as a new client with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank last month. It’s the first time the UBC student has ever had to turn to a food bank for help.

“Being at the state where I realized that I didn’t have any money — or, enough money to finish my semester and having to go to the food bank — I guess, it’s just a little demeaning at first because there’s all sorts of negative connotations attached to the food bank,” he told CityNews.

Tristan says he’s lived on his own for several years and has always been able to get by thanks to summer jobs and student loans, but he’s found it hard to stay afloat this school semester.

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“With the rising cost of living and inflation it just wound up not being enough so I tried to get an extension on my line of credit from the bank but they wouldn’t do it because I don’t have a lot of income, but I don’t have a lot of income because I’m a full-time university student so it’s just kind of a catch-22,” he added.

“So that led me to look for support like the Greater Vancouver Food Bank so I could make it through the semester.”

Tristan says he’s had to turn to help even though he’s already made sacrifices to stretch out his money.

“Going out with friends, that sort of things, can’t really afford to do that anymore. I can’t really afford to buy high quality food … I basically am limited to cheaper staples.”

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank told CityNews earlier this month that it was seeing increased demand amid the rising cost of living.

Cynthia Boulter, Chief Operating Officer, said they’re seeing about 500 people a month register as a new client. Last year, they were seeing 400 new clients a month.

“The trends that we’re are seeing are newcomers to Canada, so that is a very common reason for coming to the food bank in the last several months, and also international students,” she said.

“I’ve worked with a couple of universities to really make sure that they are doing everything they can for their students, their students know about us, and that it’s easy for them to come and register and access our services.”

Boulter said around 35 per cent of their new clients were turning to the food bank because of either low wages or job loss.

Tristan has seen the uptick in demand first hand.

“I was surprised to see how many people use [the food bank]. Whenever I go, there’s usually quite a few people there and, you know, they don’t always look like people who would be using the food bank, like stereotypically so. That’s just a testament to how times are difficult coming out of the pandemic.”