Canned products sit on shelves at a food bank, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Ottawa.
Ontario’s food banks are facing unprecedented pressure as more residents slip deeper into poverty despite being employed. A new Hunger Report by Feed Ontario shows a surge in food insecurity that is overwhelming frontline services and exposing cracks in the province’s affordability crisis.
Record Food Bank Use Signals a Deepening Crisis
Ontario recorded 1,007,441 food bank users this year — the highest number in the province’s history. This marks an 87% increase since 2019, reflecting how quickly poverty has intensified.
Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart said the numbers reveal a disturbing trend. “More than one million people now rely on food banks. Families who once got by are now barely holding on.”
Between April 2024 and March 2025, Ontario food banks saw 8.7 million total visits, a staggering 165% rise since 2019. The report highlights that:
- 1 in 3 visitors are children
- 1 in 3 are people with disabilities
- 1 in 4 have jobs but still can’t afford basic needs
The fastest-growing group is employed adults, a sign that work is no longer enough to escape poverty in Ontario.
Food Banks Fear Collapse Under Heavy Demand
The report warns that many food banks are at risk of collapsing.
- Two in three food banks fear they cannot sustain operations for the next six months.
- One in two worry they will run out of food to meet community needs.
Stewart stressed the consequences: “People come to food banks only when all other options are gone. If services shrink, their only choice is to skip meals or go without.”
Frontline Providers Crushed by Growing Need
The North York Harvest Food Bank, a major distribution hub, is already struggling. Executive director Ryan Noble said the rising demand is stretching every part of the system.
“It puts tremendous strain on agencies serving the public,” Noble explained. “We need more food, more storage, and more staff capacity. But the crisis keeps growing faster than we can respond.”
He added that the lack of affordability is the common thread connecting every case — housing costs, grocery prices, and basic living expenses continue to outpace wages.
Cost of Living Pressures Push More Working Adults to Food Banks
Soaring housing costs are a major driver of food insecurity. According to Statistics Canada, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto now exceeds $2,690.
The Hunger Report shows 88% of food bank users feel overwhelming financial stress due to food and housing costs. Many employed adults must choose between buying groceries and paying rent.
Stewart said, “Having a job is no longer enough. Workers are turning to food banks in numbers we’ve never seen.”
Rising Food Bank Use Linked to Homelessness
Ontario’s food insecurity crisis is closely tied to rising homelessness. The report found that when food bank use spikes, homelessness spikes shortly after.
A McMaster University study reinforces this link:
- Only 4% of Hamilton households using food banks had stable housing.
- 46% said they would likely be homeless without food bank support.
The Hunger Report warns:
“The average number of food bank visits per person has risen 13%. This is a sign that another homelessness surge is imminent.”
Food bank use often rises before individuals become homeless, as people divert food money toward rent in an effort to stay housed.
The Crisis Is Even Bigger Than Reported
Feed Ontario notes that the true scale of hunger is much worse than the report shows. Their data only covers traditional food bank visits and does not include:
- community fridges
- mobile food programs
- school meal supports
- informal neighborhood food exchanges
As affordability challenges deepen, these resources are also under pressure, yet remain uncounted.
Moving Forward as Food Bank Demand Escalates
Ontario’s food banks have become a lifeline for a growing population struggling with the affordability crisis. But the system is cracking under record use.
If food banks cannot keep up, the province could see heightened homelessness, rising healthcare costs, and worsening poverty.The Hunger Report makes one thing clear: Ontario is facing a historic food insecurity emergency, and without immediate action, the consequences will extend far beyond food banks.
