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 – August 2024:

• 1,249  households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank for the first time, a -22% decrease over the same period in 2023. This indicates 31% of unique households served are new visits.
• 3,990 unique households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank, a 4% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 43% increase since this same time in 2022.
• 8,977 unique individuals supported by the Cambridge Food Bank, a 14% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 57% increase since this same time in 2022.
• 14,738 hampers distributed to participants, a 21% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 75% increase since this same time in 2022.

 Ages – Unique 

• 3,014 children were between 0 and 18 years old, a 29% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 481 seniors were aged 65 and older, a 28% increase over the same period in 2023.

Housing 

• 2,995  unique households lived in a private rental, a 4% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 75% of households served live in rentals.
• 295 unique households lived in social housing, a 4% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 169 unique households were homeowners, a 2% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 104% increase since 2022
• 233 unique households lived with family or friends, a 20% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 141 unique households lived in an emergency shelter or were homeless, an 28% increase over the same period in 2023.

• 1,049 unique households were receiving Ontario Works, a 33% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 26% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving OW.
• 845 unique households were receiving Ontario Disability Support Program payments, a 12% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 21% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving ODSP.
• 884 unique households were employed, a 21% increase over the same period in 2023 and an increase of 94% since this same time in 2022. This represents 22% of unique households served during this time.
• 176 unique households have no income source, a -30% decrease over the same period in 2023.
• 67 unique households were receiving an Old Age Pension, a 37% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 200 unique households were receiving CPP payments, a 20% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 133 unique households were receiving Employment Insurance payments, a 34% increase over the same period in 2023.