Item - 2022.EC29.6

The Economic and Community Development Committee received the report (April 11, 2022) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, for information.

This report responds to City Council direction to consider the development of a relief fund to facilitate grants for food security to community service organizations serving the Downtown East and West to enhance emergency support food infrastructure for the precariously housed and people with complex service needs. This report provides an overview of the state of food insecurity in Toronto and the initiatives that the City undertook to fund emergency food security supports during the current pandemic. Finally, the report outlines how the City will be incorporating the learnings from these initiatives into the development of the 2023-2026 Poverty Reduction Strategy Action Plan, including ways to support the For Public Benefit sector to advance initiatives that advance food security and equity.