Community Impact

People who go to food banks for help don’t all have the same story, and there are many different reasons why someone might need emergency food. It could be because they lost their job suddenly, don’t earn enough money, can’t afford the high cost of food, or don’t have affordable housing. Fixing the problem of not having enough food is complicated and the solution is complex.

1 in 20 households in Waterloo region are struggling to afford to put food on the table.  Last year, the Community Food Assistance Network supported 34,620 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..

Between January – March 2024:

• 479  households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank for the first time, a -28% decrease over the same period in 2023. This indicates 18% of unique households served are new visits.
• 2,688 unique households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank, a 14% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 6,316 unique individuals supported by the Cambridge Food Bank, a 25% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 5,370 hampers distributed to participants, a 21% increase over the same period in 2023.

 Ages – Unique 

• 2,193 children were between 0 and 18 years old, a 47% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 356 seniors were aged 65 and older, a 36% increase over the same period in 2023.

Housing 

• 2,050  unique households lived in a private rental, a 14% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 76% of households served live in rentals.
• 217 unique households lived in social housing, a 6% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 124 unique households were homeowners, a 61% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 123 unique households lived with family or friends, a 25% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 79 unique households lived in an emergency shelter or were homeless, an 22% increase over the same period in 2023.

• 717 unique households were receiving Ontario Works, a 39% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 27% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving OW.
• 605 unique households were receiving Ontario Disability Support Program payments, a 21% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 17% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving ODSP.
• 599 unique households were employed, a 40% increase over the same period in 2023. This represents 22% of unique households served during this time.
• 94 unique households have no income source, a -12% decrease over the same period in 2023.
• 50 unique households were receiving an Old Age Pension, a 22% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 139 unique households were receiving CPP payments, a 18% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 84 unique households were receiving Employment Insurance payments, a 15% increase over the same period in 2026