More families struggling with cost of living and poverty, says UGM

The Union Gospel Mission expects to serve up around 2,200 meals at its Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, and this year, more families are expected to join in at the annual event.

In the past, the charity tended to see more individuals — as opposed to family groups — at the dinners, spokesperson Nicole Mucci told CityNews. Now, as the price of groceries and the cost of living increase for everyone, the need has expanded as people try to stretch their dollar further.

Related links:

• Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside gears up for annual Easter meal

• UGM’s Vancouver shelter hitting capacity ahead of winter months

“We’re just seeing families kind of falling into poverty more quickly or struggling along the poverty line,” Mucci said. “We’ve seen more families come in requesting help with emergency food supplies and emergency food hampers to get them through to the end of each month.”

Mucci has worked with the mission for seven years, and she says the last year and a half have been the worst she has seen.

“The last 18 months or so, things have definitely been the most difficult in the Downtown Eastside community, in my time there, only because the need has increased and so, so many more people are struggling with homelessness,” she said. “Now we’re doing dozens and dozens of emergency food hampers per week.”

She also says increases in people struggling with addiction and traumatic brain injuries are contributing to the demand.