NewsTransformative Grant Fuels Innovative Food Security Pilot
November 1, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Fred Victor is thrilled to announce a grant of $598,000 over three years from the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security to pilot a project that will support food security among people who have experienced homelessness. This project will reach 150 households that are transitioning out of homelessness, providing a monthly subsidy for food purchases and access to Food Skills workshops to support them during this critical time of transition.
Fred Victor is a registered charity that serves over 3,000 people every day – Its mission is to improve the health, income and housing stability of people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Fred Victor is committed is providing long-term sustainable solutions to hunger and homelessness.
This project will specifically support people during a unique high-risk period of transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Adjusting to independent living while earning a low-income coupled with a lack or loss of foundational skills such as managing money, shopping and cooking, can lead to a high chance for recidivism to homelessness. Funds from this grant will provide reliable, supplemental food income, workshops to learn foundational food skills and ongoing one-to-one support, with the goal of building independence and stability.
“This partnership brings together expertise on housing and food insecurity to help build a case for providing additional supports to people who are making the tough transition into long-term affordable housing”, said Sarah Stern, Executive Director of the Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security. “We hope to see long-term positive outcomes for participants and to build the evidence base for providing financial supports.”
“This grant provides an extraordinary opportunity to address our current hunger and homelessness crisis in Toronto and help 150 families rebuild their lives.” said Keith Hambly, Fred Victor CEO. “Advocating for people experiencing food insecurity and providing innovative, sustainable solutions is essential to supporting people out of homelessness”.
The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security (“the Centre”) is a registered charity committed to working collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The Centre advocates for critical public policies and invests in knowledge building and programs that advance the capacity of people and communities to achieve sustainable food security. The Centre was created in 2016 and is governed by a board of directors, including four independent experts.
Fred Victor has served communities in need in Toronto for 128 years. Fred Victor has grown from a single mission at Queen and Jarvis to a multi-service organization with 22 locations across Toronto. In addition to affordable housing, transitional housing, and emergency shelters, Fred Victor provides a constellation of supports to help people secure and maintain a safe place to live. In 2022, Fred Victor delivered Food Security programs to thousands of people in Toronto, including emergency meals to 20,000 people/month.
Media Contact:
Lorraine Pennington
Director, Marketing & Communications
905-717-8900 lpennington@fredvictor.org
