Addressing food insecurity
Complex choices and barriers to life’s essentials
When people are hungry, there are wide-ranging and profound impacts on those individuals and the communities they live in. With the cost-of-living crisis, more people in London and Middlesex simply cannot afford food.
Food security means that someone has reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food of their choosing to live a healthy life. As housing costs rise in London and Middlesex, more of people’s income is going toward keeping a roof over their heads, which can mean they have to sacrifice other important life essentials, like buying food.
Many in London and Middlesex are increasingly turning to food banks to have enough to eat. But these organizations are dependent on the generosity of the community to operate, and are not always able to meet the growing demand. Additionally, food insecurity is often exacerbated by other systemic barriers, such as socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, gender, and geographic location, which can make addressing it even more complex.
On this page:
By the Numbers
More new clients are accessing London Food Bank each year
In 2022, 36% of London Food Bank clients were new.
In 2023, that grew to 46%.
London’s food bank usage continues to increase rapidly, furthering its need for community support. A broad spectrum of people are using the London Food Bank. In 2023, 8% of food bank users were above the age of 60, 10% were students, and 18% reported that they were employed.
Source: London Food Bank
1 in 6 households in London and Middlesex are food insecure
In London and Middlesex, nearly 84,000 people face food insecurity - that’s 1 in 6 households. Half of those households report that they have paid employment.
Source: Middlesex-London Health Unit
More Meals on Wheels London clients are receiving subsidies
Approximately 60% of Meals on Wheels London clients required a subsidy in 2023 compared to approximately 50% in 2022. Meals on Wheels provides a subsidy to users who are below a set income level to assist in their food security. The number of clients requiring the subsidy has increased around 10 percentage points over a two-year period.
Hungry Bellies Only: Bridging the Food Gap in Rural Communities
When I lived in the city and the grocery store was right around the corner, I didn't have to stockpile my fridge and freezer because I had easier access. I didn't have to travel from the reserve to London. Maybe I didn't even need a car. I see the people in the reserve who don't have a license or don't have a car. They spend $40 on getting a ride to the grocery store. That's $40 that's not going in your fridge versus if they were living in a city where they could just walk to the grocery store or spend $3 getting the bus.
Percentage of elderly (65+) people living in poverty climbs steadily
The percentage of elderly people (65+) in London and Middlesex has climbed steadily, with an 4.6% increase between 2016 and 2022. The elderly experienced the largest increase in poverty compared to children, lone-parent families, and the general population. Supports and solutions targeted to elderly people are needed to reverse this concerning trend. Year over year from 2021 to 2022 poverty rates increased among children, lone-parent families. While they dropped slightly among the elderly, they’re still at a significantly higher level than in previous years.
Source: Statistics Canada
Food prices in Ontario have been increasing significantly since 2021
This data tracks the prices of 106 food items to monitor how much they have increased from the same day of the previous year. This represents an over 33% increase in prices since 2018. When food prices rise faster than salaries, the use of food banks often increases.
Source: Statistics Canada
Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program aren’t sufficient to address food insecurity
| Demographic – Program | Income | Rent | Food | What's Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Person - Ontario Works |
$865 | $860 | $405 | -$400 |
| Single Person - Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) | $1,369 | $1,124 | $405 | -$160 |
| Single Parent with 2 Children - Ontario Works | $2,560 | $1,393 | $826 | $341 |
| Family of 4 - Ontario Works | $2,794 | $1,607 | $1,124 | $63 |
A single person in the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) spends 82% of their income on rent (Source: Middlesex-London Health Unit, Report No.69-23: Appendix B). In 2023, even though ODSP rates increased for the first time in 5 years by 6.5%, overall inflation in Canada rose 18%* during that time period.
*United Way Elgin-Middlesex’s Make It Livable Campaign
Source: Middlesex-London Health Unit
Want to dive deeper into the issue of Zero Hunger in London and Middlesex County?
Check out our London Vital Signs Data Hub for more data.
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