As the affordability crisis in Ontario continues, more and more people are feeling the effects of the high cost of living.
Though many in the province are experiencing the challenge of rising costs, the ongoing affordability crisis has meant that those who were living in poverty are being pushed into more precarious situations, and people who were just barely getting by before are at greater risk of needing the support of their communities to make it through the month.
“Food is so expensive it’s hard to keep going without help like this.” – Jonathan, Food Bank Visitor
Every year we ask food bank visitors to share their experiences with their elected representatives in our postcard campaign. In the responses, we usually see many different circumstances reflected – for example, those who are facing high rent costs, people who struggle to make it through the month while relying on social assistance programs, or workers who aren’t able to make ends meet.
But this year, we saw the same theme appear on the postcards over and over again – the rising costs of basic necessities like food and housing are pushing people and families across the province into worse circumstances then they had before.
“I make the choice every month between rent and food… Never ahead, always behind…” Faith, Food Bank Visitor
The responses from food bank visitors mirror what our data shows us on a provincial level. As incomes in Ontario haven’t kept pace with the cost of living, those who might have been just getting by before are at greater risk of falling into poverty, and those who were already struggling need support for longer to get back on their feet.
Over 1 million people need to turn to a food bank to get by, the highest number on record. What’s more, those who do visit a food bank continue to seek support for longer, signaling that people in need are facing greater challenges, and that it’s getting harder than ever to find ways out of poverty.
“With the price of goods going up, it’s hard to get what my family needs, even just basics (i.e. eggs, milk). I use this food bank for help and have been for over a year.” – Pearl, Food Bank Visitor
In the Hunger Report 2024, we shared that even though the average income of the lowest income Ontarians decreased by 2% between 2019 and 2022, the cost of food increased by 14% and the average rent increased by 15%. The math just doesn’t add up, and no matter how hard someone works it has become increasingly difficult for more people than ever before to get by.
“My family and I are on a tight budget and it’s hard to buy groceries at the stores with the high prices these days.” – Amy, Food Bank Visitor
The amount of people who don’t have the income they need to meet their basic needs is growing, and this weakens the fabric of our communities. It becomes difficult to take part when you’re just trying to survive, and as more people in our province struggle to make ends meet, trust is eroded in our institutions – and each other.
Making sure everyone has what they need to get by is how we can create thriving communities throughout Ontario, where everyone has a chance to live, contribute, and succeed.
We can all take action to make this vision of Ontario’s future a reality. By taking steps to fight hunger like signing our petition, making a donation, or volunteering at your local food bank we can come together to make sure all Ontarians are able not just to get by – but to thrive.