Food bank usage in Ontario has reached unprecedented levels, according to Feed Ontario’s newly released 2024-25 Hunger Report, which shows more than one million individuals accessed food assistance over the past year – the highest number on record.
The report indicates this now represents about one in 16 Ontarians, an increase of 87 per cent since 2019-20.
In total, food banks recorded more than 8.7 million visits during the reporting period, up 13 per cent from the previous year. That amounts to about 24,000 visits daily across the province.
Feed Ontario says rising living costs, particularly for housing and groceries, remain the primary drivers. Of those surveyed, 56 per cent cited food prices as the reason for seeking help, while 27 per cent pointed to housing costs.
The situation in Central Ontario is especially acute, with visits up 257 per cent over five years and 140 per cent more individuals relying on food banks for support. Feed Ontario says the increase is pushing many organizations to capacity, reporting that half of food banks are struggling to keep up with demand, while one-third say they may eventually need to reduce or suspend service levels.
A significant trend highlighted in the report is the growing number of employed individuals using food banks: Nearly one in four visitors now has a job. Feed Ontario says this reflects a widening affordability gap where income growth has not kept pace with the rising cost of essential goods and services since 2019.
The organization says the data illustrates a “rising tide of material insecurity,” and calls for policies that address systemic affordability pressures, stabilize household costs and support long-term food access solutions in communities across Ontario.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)