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Food insecurity means a household doesn't have enough money to buy healthy food. Food insecurity can vary from worrying about running out of food, to filling up on cheaper, less nutritious foods, to skipping meals or going without eating. Poverty is the root cause of food insecurity.
Having a job doesn't always provide enough money for food. Currently, 59% of food insecure households have income from employment. 1 in 7 households are food insecure in our Health Unit region.
Households at higher risk of food insecurity include those who:
Food charity programs like food banks and soup kitchens can provide some relief, but do not address the root cause of food insecurity, which is poverty. Only about 25% of households experiencing food insecurity use food charity programs.
Every year, the Health Unit visits local grocery stores to determine the cost of healthy eating. The monthly cost of healthy eating for a family of four in our district is $884. This number is calculated using whole food staples from Canada's Food Guide.Year after year, the results show that it may not be possible for low income households in our district to pay rent, bills and buy nutritious food.
Poverty is the root of the problem. Food insecurity must be addressed with government policy change.
The Health Unit is involved in ongoing advocacy efforts related to issues of public health importance. Below are some examples advocacy letters about the need for income solutions to reduce food insecurity in Ontario.
Response letter for cancellation of Basic Income Pilot Project
Feedback letter for Income Security: A Roadmap for Change report consultation
2018 Income Scenarios |
The 2018 Income Scenarios show the cost of healthy eating and local rent rates compared with various household types and sources of income. |
Food Insecurity Poster |
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Affiche d’insécurité alimentaire |
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