About

Hunger in Waterloo region

There’s no typical food bank recipient and there are many reasons a person may access emergency food assistance, such as sudden job loss, low income, the rising cost of food, and/or lack of affordable housing. Food insecurity is a complex problem and the solutions are complicated.

1 in 10 households in Waterloo region struggle to afford to put food on the table. That number is up from 1 in 14 households. Last year, the Community Food Assistance Network supported 58,688 individuals in need. 

Thanks to you, our caring community, the Network can provide access and connection to food and other essential services and resources that help people move forward with their lives.

the need: What we’re seeing in Waterloo region

Between January 1 and March 31, 2024:

  • 1,938 households accessed a food assistance program for the first time, a 10% decrease over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 13,878 unique households accessed a food assistance program, a 17% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 36,428 unique individuals supported by the Community Food Assistance Network, a 20% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 47,175 hampers distributed to community members, a 20% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 292,117 meals provided to community members, a 22% increase over the same quarter in 2023.

Participant demographics

Between January 1 and March 31, 2024:

Family composition

Families of all shapes and sizes depend on food assistance.

  • 5,840 individuals were a single person household, a 0.5% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 2,615 individuals were a two-parent household with children, a 27% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 1,928 individuals were a single parent household with children, a 21% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 806 individuals were a couple household with no children, a 33% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 3,530 individuals didn’t indicate family composition. This group represents a 1% increase over the same quarter in 2023.

Ages

  • 13,971 children were between 0 and 17 years old, a 13% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 1,382 seniors were aged 65 and older, a 13% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 18,272 adults were aged 18 and older, a 16% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 5,673 individuals didn’t indicate family composition. This group represents a 4% decrease over the same quarter in 2023.

Housing

  • 6,867 unique households lived in a private rental, a 12% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 760 unique households lived in social housing, a 3% decrease over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 421 unique households were homeowners, a 6% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 260 unique households lived with family or friends, a 20% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 138 unique households lived in an emergency shelter or were homeless, a 12% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 148 unique households listed other as their housing, a 9% decrease over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 2,592 unique households didn’t indicate housing type, a 15% increase over the same quarter in 2023.

Income

  • 2,140 unique households were receiving Ontario Works, a 5% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 2,020 unique households were receiving Ontario Disability Support Program payments, a 9% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 2,151 unique households were employed, a 16% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 1,916 unique households have no income source, a 42% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 653 unique households were receiving an Old Age Pension, a 6% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 273 unique households were receiving Employment Insurance payments, a 10% decrease over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 619 unique households were receiving a Student Loan, a 18% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 1,071 unique households listed other as an income source, a 15% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 3,876 unique households didn’t report income source, a 15% increase over the same quarter in 2023.

Program visits

  • 142,511 food assistance program visits, a 23% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 13,878 unique households accessed a hamper program, a 17% increase over the same quarter in 2023.
  • 1,655 unique households accessed a hamper program 8+ times, a 25% increase over the same quarter in 2023.

Read our 2022–2023 Hunger Count, an annual snapshot that provides insight into food insecurity in Waterloo region.