Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is the result of not having enough money to buy food. When income is too low, people do not have enough money for basic living expenses including rent, utilities and food.

Policies that improve the incomes of low-income households are needed to reduce food insecurity.

Nearly 18% of Huron Perth residents experienced food insecurity in 2021-2023, the most recent years data is available for.*

It’s hard - and sometimes impossible - to make ends meet when earning minimum wage, working part-time and precarious jobs, receiving social assistance or living on a fixed income.

*Source: Three-year average from Household Food Insecurity Snapshot | Public Health Ontario

Monitoring food affordability is a requirement in the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol of the Ontario Public Health Standards (2018).

Huron Perth Public Health annually surveys the price of a variety of foods from grocery stores across Huron and Perth counties. This information is used to calculate the cost of one week’s worth of groceries.

Monitoring food affordability also involves creating different income scenarios to show the amount of money left after paying for basic expenses (rent and food).

More information can be found in our yearly report.

Food banks are still the main community response to food insecurity. In reality, food banks and other charitable food programs (such as meal programs or community gardens) are not a solution. They fail to address the main problem of inadequate income.

The best way to end food insecurity is by addressing poverty.

Income solutions are needed so that everyone has enough money to meet their basic needs, including food. For example:

• Basic income
• Living wage
• Social assistance rates geared to the real cost of living

• Learn more about food insecurity and why income solutions are needed to reduce food insecurity. Share what you learn with others.
  • ODPH Position Statement on Responses to Food Insecurity
  • PROOF
• Speak with candidates before the next election. Ask them how they plan to address food insecurity.
• Send letters to your MP and MPP asking them to make poverty reduction a priority.
• Learn about the living wage
  • United Way Perth-Huron
  • Ontario Living Wage Network
• Support free income tax clinics, either by hosting one or becoming a volunteer
• Advocate for Basic Income, higher social assistance rates and improved employment standards