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 8 households in Waterloo region are struggling to afford to put food on the table.  Last year, the Community Food Assistance Network supported 58,000 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 – October 2024:

• 1,677  households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank for the first time, a -26% decrease over the same period in 2023. This indicates 36% of unique households served are new visits.
• 4,628 unique households accessed the Cambridge Food Bank, a 2% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 33% increase since this same time in 2022.
• 10,292 unique individuals supported by the Cambridge Food Bank, a 9% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 45% increase since this same time in 2022.
• 20,983 hampers distributed to participants, a 21% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 66% increase since this same time in 2022.

 Ages – Unique 

• 3,414 children were between 0 and 18 years old, a 19% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 555 seniors were aged 65 and older, a 27% increase over the same period in 2023.

Housing 

• 3,455  unique households lived in a private rental, a 0% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 75% of households served live in rentals.
• 331 unique households lived in social housing, a 5% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 188 unique households were homeowners, a  -0.5% decrease over the same period in 2023 and a 71% increase since 2022
• 281 unique households lived with family or friends, a 23% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 89 unique households lived in an emergency shelter, an 11% increase over the same period in 2023.

• 1,249 unique households were receiving Ontario Works, a 32% increase over the same period in 2023. This indicates 27% of all unique households served with income type shared are receiving OW.
• 962 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.
• 1,007 unique households were employed, a 11% increase over the same period in 2023 and an increase of 65% since this same time in 2022. This represents 22% of unique households served during this time.
• 206 unique households have no income source, a -32% decrease over the same period in 2023.
• 77 unique households were receiving an Old Age Pension, a 26% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 232 unique households were receiving CPP payments, a 23% increase over the same period in 2023.
• 156 unique households were receiving Employment Insurance payments, a 32% increase over the same period in 2023.