Ontario's faith leaders called on provincial party leaders yesterday to spell out how they plan to help the growing numbers of hungry, homeless, poor and physically and mentally challenged.

Faith leaders including Toronto's Anglican Archbishop Terence Finlay, Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse, and the Most Rev. John Sherlock, the Catholic emeritus bishop of London, said members of their churches are "becoming more impatient with what appears to be the willingness of governments to remain indifferent to the needs of poor people."

The faith leaders also included Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Unitarian/Universalists and the Salvation Army as well as leaders of the United, Presbyterian, Mennonite, and Christian Reformed churches.

"Faith communities and agencies have heard the increasing pleas for help (from) people with no place to call home, children living in poverty who are relying on food banks, people with disabilities who are having difficulty securing benefits, working families who cannot earn enough to support themselves or their families, ill people who cannot afford prescription drugs or professional care in their home," say letters that went out to Premier Ernie Eves, Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty and New Democratic leader Howard Hampton.

"On behalf of our faith members, and, yes, the people of Ontario, we are asking the political leaders to take some responsibility," said Bishop Sherlock. "We will be letting the people of Ontario know how they respond to our request for both compassion and solutions."

At least six Ontario regional governments, including Ottawa, have sent letters to the premier saying a family on social assistance or working at minimum wage cannot pay rent and provide a nutritious diet for themselves and their children. There has been no increase in the minimum wage, social assistance, or affordable housing since 1995.