Ontario public health units are joining forces to address the rising crisis of food insecurity, which is impacting nearly one in four households in eastern Ontario.
Food insecurity, defined as inadequate or uncertain access to food due to financial limitations, threatens the physical and mental health of adults and children alike and increases strain on the health-care system.
In 2023, food insecurity in the eastern region rose sharply to 24 per cent, up from 16 per cent the previous year. Data reveals that individuals receiving Ontario Works face a monthly deficit of $263 to $795 after covering basic expenses like rent, utilities, and transportation. Many low-income households share similar struggles, unable to meet their basic needs.
Experts stress that food insecurity is not about budgeting or food skills but stems from poverty and insufficient income. Public health officials are urging systemic, income-based solutions to tackle the issue. Recommended measures include indexing social assistance rates to inflation, enhancing income supports like child and disability benefits, expanding access to tax filing programs for subsidies, and improving employment standards to ensure livable wages and benefits.
“Food insecurity is a direct result of financial hardship,” public health units noted. “Addressing it requires solutions that ensure all Ontarians can afford the essentials of life.”
To learn more about the issue and evidence-based responses, visit proof.utoronto.ca.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)