The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE number of single fathers and grandparents facing food insecurity in The Bahamas has risen, with demand for assistance showing no signs of decline, according to Hands For Hunger executive director Keisha Ellis.

She noted that Hands for Hunger serves people from various demographics, most of whom are working, but struggling.

“We do have a lot of single mothers,” she said. “We have a lot of families that come in. Over the years, we’ve actually seen an increase in the number of single fathers that are coming in to support their children, and also a lot of grandparents raising children. I will say, though, that the majority of families we serve have children.”

 She said the non-profit organisation supports over 5,000 families through its various programmes. Despite the support, many of those seeking assistance are fully employed, often working two jobs to make ends meet.

 “I think that’s something that people perhaps don’t fully understand –– that being food insecure does not mean you are not working,” she said. “It does not mean that you are not trying. It simply means that you are working, you are really putting yourself out there, but it’s just not enough to cover your needs.”

She emphasised that the rising cost of living is impacting people across The Bahamas and beyond, noting that while wages have seen slight increases in certain sectors, they have not kept pace with escalating prices. As a result, many full-time workers are finding it increasingly difficult to afford basic necessities.

Ms Ellis, who has led the organisation for six years and served it for eight, said the demand for food assistance has remained high since the impacts of COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian. Requests for help surged after these events and have stayed elevated, with little decrease in the number of people seeking assistance.

“It is a big task trying to keep enough food available so that we can support the people who are registered, as well as the people who walk in off the street because part of what we understand is that, you know, some individuals go through periods of food insecurity,” she said.

“So, it’s not that they are constantly food insecure, but for whatever reason, a family emergency or a loss of a job or a natural disaster, they in this moment need food, and we want to be able to support those people as well.”  

A 2023 study conducted by University of The Bahamas researcher Lesvie Archer provides context to these challenges, showing that a middle-class family of four in New Providence needs a monthly income of $10,200 to sustain a basic lifestyle, while a similar family in Grand Bahama requires $10,100. This slight one percent difference reflects variations in specific expenses between the two islands.  

The study’s findings underscore the significant financial pressures many families in The Bahamas face. A 2023 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) study also revealed that 17.2 percent of Bahamians experienced “moderate to severe food insecurity” between 2019 and 2021.