Soaring hydro rates are bringing more people to food banks

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The Ontario Association of Food Banks says the rising cost of hydro is crippling those who are already struggling, and bringing more people into food banks.

This pressure is being felt here in Hamilton, where at least one food bank says it is struggling to feed more and more people who have to use their last bit of cash on power.

“People having to choose between heating their home, and trying to keep their lights on and eating. Which is just an extreme choice and no one should have to make that choice.”

The manager of social services at St. Matthew’s House, Karen Rindell says more and more people are struggling to put food on the table because of their hydro bill.

“We are seeing a number of new users who have always been able to manage their finances and get through the month without needing any additional support, who have showed up and said I just can’t manage to pay this bill.”

At the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, Anne Thompson picked out christmas decorations. She recently lost her job, and says having to pay hydro is worsening her situation.

“Money that you could use on food is now going to your heating and stuff like that so its ridiculous.”

Thompson says that with the loss of her job, and the rising cost of hydro, she has needed a lot of extra help to make ends meet.

“Well sometimes you have to utilize the food bank. Its very embarrassing to utilize those services, but at the end of the day, if you have family to feed, that’s what you need to do.”

St. Matthews House has been asking clients to bring in their updated hydro bill, so that the organization can monitor just how severely the rising cost of hydro is affecting their food bank users.