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 8 households in Waterloo region struggle to afford to put food on the table. That number is up from 1 in 10 households. In 2024, the Community Food Assistance Network supported 73,615 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, 2025:

1,059 households accessed a food assistance program for the first time, a 45% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
13,254 unique households accessed a food assistance program, a 4% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
37,282 unique individuals supported by the Community Food Assistance Network, a 2% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
48,488 hampers distributed to community members, a 3% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
306,723 meals provided to community members, a 5% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024.

Participant demographics

Between January 1 and March 31, 2025:

Family composition

Families of all shapes and sizes depend on food assistance.

5,283 individuals were a single person household, a 10% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
2,820 individuals were a two-parent household with children, an 8% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
1,898 individuals were a single parent household with children, a 2% decrease over the same quarter in 2024.
699 individuals were a couple household with no children, a 13% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
3,581 individuals didn’t indicate family composition. This group represents a 1% increase over the same quarter in 2024.

Ages

14,656 children were between 0 and 17 years old, a 5% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
1,548 seniors were aged 65 and older, a 12% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
25,948 adults were aged 18 and older, a 2% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024.
6,021 individuals didn’t indicate family composition. This group represents a 6% increase over the same quarter in 2024.

Housing

6,678 unique households lived in a private rental, a 3% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
715 unique households lived in social housing, a 6% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
386 unique households were homeowners, an 8% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
282 unique households lived with family or friends, an 8% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
140 unique households lived in an emergency shelter or were homeless, a 1% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
114 unique households listed other as their housing, a 23% decrease over the same quarter in 2024.
2,358 unique households didn’t indicate housing type, a 9% decrease over the same quarter in 2024.

Income

2,349 unique households were receiving Ontario Works, a 10% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
1,938 unique households were receiving Ontario Disability Support Program payments, a 4% decrease over the same quarter in 2024.
2,229 unique households were employed, a 3% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
1,566 unique households have no income source, an 18% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
703 unique households were receiving an Old Age Pension, an 8% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
312 unique households were receiving Employment Insurance payments, a 14% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
288 unique households were receiving a Student Loan, a 53% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
1,030 unique households listed other as an income source, a 4% decrease over the same quarter in 2024.
3,866 unique households didn’t report income source. No change compared to the same quarter in 2024.

Program visits

152,876 food assistance program visits, a 7% increase over the same quarter in 2024.
13,254 unique households accessed a hamper program, a 45% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024.
1,780 unique households accessed a hamper program 8+ times, an 8% increase over the same quarter in 2024.

Read our 2024 Community Impact report, an annual snapshot that provides insight into food insecurity in Waterloo region.