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 14 households in Waterloo region are struggling to afford to put food on the table. That number is up from 1 in 20 households. Last year, the Community Food Assistance Network supported 40,530 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 and July 2023:

• 1,474 households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank for the first time, a 62% increase over the same quarter in 2022. This indicates 40% of unique households served are new visits.
• 3,640 unique households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank, a 45% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 7422 unique individuals supported by the Cambridge Food Bank, a 44% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 10,899 hampers distributed to participants, a 47% increase over the same period in 2022.

 Ages – Unique 

• 2,195 children were between 0 and 18 years old, a 35% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 365 seniors were aged 65 and older, a 33% increase over the same period in 2022.

Housing 

• 2,730  unique households lived in a private rental, a 71% increase over the same period in 2022. This indicates 75% of households served live in rentals.
• 278 unique households lived in social housing, a -7.6% decrease over the same period in 2022.
• 161 unique households were homeowners, a 106% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 175 unique households lived with family or friends, a 119% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 103 unique households lived in an emergency shelter or were homeless, an 81% increase over the same period in 2022.

• 748 unique households were receiving Ontario Works, a 28% increase over the same period in 2022. This indicates 21% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving OW.
• 719 unique households were receiving Ontario Disability Support Program payments, a 21% increase over the same period in 2022. This indicates 19% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving ODSP.
• 663 unique households were employed, a 63% increase over the same period in 2022. This represents 18% of unique households served during this time.
• 234 unique households have no income source, a 66% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 47 unique households were receiving an Old Age Pension, a 0% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 169 unique households were receiving CPP payments, a 32% increase over the same period in 2022.
• 94 unique households were receiving Employment Insurance payments, a 6% increase over the same period in 2022