What Is Food Insecurity? And Why It’s Rising in Hamilton

A good meal should never be out of reach.

What is Food Insecurity?

At its core, food insecurity means not having consistent access to enough nutritious, affordable food. For many, it’s a daily reality shaped by income, rising costs, and tough choices, like deciding between groceries or rent. Depending on the severity of the situation, food insecurity is categorized into three levels:

• Marginal food insecurity: Concerns about running out of food and/or limited food choices due to a lack of money. 

• Moderate food insecurity: Compromises in the quality and/or quantity of food consumed.

• Severe food insecurity: Missing meals, significantly reducing food intake, or going days without eating.

What Causes Food Insecurity?

One of the biggest drivers of food insecurity is low income. When income doesn’t keep up with the cost of living or when government supports fall short, they’re forced to make tough choices between food, rent, transportation, and other essentials. Several other factors that can make food insecurity worse include high cost of living, unstable employment, inadequate social assistance, systemic inequities and health challenges.

Food insecurity isn’t just about food, it’s a symptom of broader issues like poverty, inequality, and underinvestment in social systems.

Food Insecurity in Canada and Hamilton

Food insecurity is on the rise in Canada. In 2024, one in four people living in the ten provinces, an estimated 10 million individuals, including 2.5 million children, lived in households that couldn't consistently afford the food they needed. This marks the third year in a row with increasing rates and a new national record.

In Hamilton, more than one in four households lived with food insecurity in 2023, up from 18.1% in 2022. The Ontario Nutritious Food Basket (ONFB) survey found that the weekly cost of a healthy diet for a family of four in Hamilton was $266.35 in 2024. When that’s paired with rising rent, transportation, and utilities, it’s no wonder many families are forced to choose between food and other essentials.

Who is Most Affected by Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity can impact anyone, but some groups are hit harder than others:

• Low-income households: Folks relying on social assistance programs like Ontario Works or ODSP are significantly more likely to experience food insecurity.

• Renters: In 2022, 27.5% of renters faced food insecurity, compared to 16.4% of homeowners with mortgages and just 8.4% of mortgage-free homeowners.

• Racialized communities: Black and Indigenous households report food insecurity rates two to three times higher than white households. These numbers are likely even higher for Indigenous families living on reserves or in remote northern communities, where national data is limited.

• Newcomers: Adults who immigrated to Canada within the last decade are around 1.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity compared to those born in Canada.

What Are The Effects of Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity extends beyond hunger; it impacts physical health, mental well-being, and healthcare systems.

Physical Health

Food insecurity doesn't just lead to hunger; it has serious, long-term consequences for physical health. Adults living in food-insecure households are more likely to experience a range of health issues, including infectious diseases, poor oral health, injuries, and chronic conditions such as arthritis, back problems, heart disease, hypertension, chronic pain, and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

Mental Health

There’s a strong link between food insecurity and mental health struggles. The more severe the insecurity, the higher the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, for both adults and children.

Even when only adults in a household go without, kids still feel the effects: they’re more likely to struggle with attention, anxiety, and emotional well-being. The impact can follow them into adulthood.

Healthcare

Food insecurity puts pressure on our public healthcare system. People facing food insecurity are admitted to hospital more often, stay longer, and are more likely to be readmitted.

How You Can Help End Food Insecurity

Solving food insecurity requires both immediate support and long-term systemic change. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Get involved in community gardening: These spaces provide fresh, affordable food to residents and build resilience in neighbourhoods facing poverty.

• Support local food programs: Organizations like 541 Eatery & Exchange, Hamilton Food Share, and Food4Kids Hamilton offer accessible meals, food hampers, and other resources to those in need.

• Advocate for systemic solutions: Food insecurity is rooted in income inequality. By supporting advocacy groups like Community Food Centres Canada and Food Secure Canada, you’re helping push for stronger income supports, affordable housing, and fair wages—all essential to addressing the root causes.

Food insecurity in Hamilton and across Canada is a growing crisis, affecting millions of individuals and families, including our neighbours. While the root causes are systemic, community-driven responses are vital.

At 541 Eatery & Exchange, we believe that everyone deserves access to good food and a place to belong. Through our Button Program, affordable meals, and inclusive cafe space, we aim to reduce barriers and create moments of dignity, connection, and care for those navigating food insecurity.

Your support, whether through donations, volunteering, or simply sharing a meal with us, helps keep this work going. Together, we can be part of a movement toward a more food-secure, more compassionate Hamilton.