Ontario’s annual Hunger Report paints a stark picture of rising food insecurity across the province, showing that demand for food banks has grown for the ninth consecutive year — and that the issue is now reaching deeper into housing, health care, and overall community well-being.
More Than One Million People Used Food Banks
Feed Ontario’s report shows that 1,007,441 people accessed a food bank between April 2024 and March 2025, for a total of 8.7 million visits. That marks a 1 per cent increase from last year and an 87 per cent surge compared to 2020.
The report highlights that demand is not only increasing but becoming more sustained. While fewer newcomers are turning to food banks for the first time — 34 per cent this year, down from 43 per cent the year before — overall usage continues to rise because existing clients are returning more often. Many now rely on food banks nearly twice as frequently as they did in past years.
Who Is Using Food Banks
The data shows food insecurity reaching far beyond traditional assumptions. According to Feed Ontario:
- 76% of visitors are rental tenants
- 61% rely on social assistance
- 23% are employed
- 29% are children
The report signals that economic pressures such as high housing costs, stagnant wages, and rising living expenses are pushing more households into long-term reliance on emergency food support.
Food Insecurity Now Affecting Housing Stability
The Hunger Report warns that food insecurity is tightly linked to housing vulnerability. Research cited in the report shows that some food bank users with stable housing would be at risk of homelessness if they didn’t have access to supplemental food support, as the money they save on groceries is being used to cover rent and essential bills.
As costs continue to climb, some Ontarians are now forced to cut back on basic services, choosing between food, utilities, and housing.
Growing Strain on Health Care Systems
Feed Ontario emphasizes that inadequate access to nutritious food has significant consequences for physical and mental health, contributing to higher rates of chronic disease, injuries, and mental health challenges. This places additional pressure on a health-care system already struggling with longer wait times and rising costs.
A Community Issue With Provincial Impact
While food banks remain a crucial safety net, Feed Ontario warns that their role has shifted from emergency support to a long-term lifeline for many households. With food inflation still high and economic uncertainty expected to continue into 2026, the organization notes that Ontario may be heading into a tenth year of increasing need.
The report stresses that hunger is now deeply connected to broader issues such as poverty, housing instability, and inadequate social supports — and that addressing food insecurity will be essential to protecting the health and resilience of communities across the province.
