Why Food Security Matters More Than Ever
Toronto is in the middle of a food crisis that goes far beyond expensive groceries. Over the past two years, grocery prices have surged in Toronto and across Canada, making it harder for low-income households to afford enough food, especially nutritious food . In 2024, 24.7% of Toronto households experienced food insecurity, meaning they did not have reliable access to enough food because of financial constraints 1.
How the Cycle Deepens
Research from the University of Toronto’s PROOF project links food insecurity to poorer diets, anxiety, depression, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Severely food-insecure adults can also have healthcare costs more than twice those of food-secure adults 2.
For children, not having enough nutritious food can affect concentration, attention, academic performance and mental wellbeing 3.
The cycle can look like this:
Poor nutrition leads to health problems, health problems lead to missed school or work, lost education or income deepens poverty, and deeper poverty increases food insecurity.
That is why food security is really an education issue, a health issue, and a poverty issue.
The Unequal Weight of Food Insecurity
Food insecurity does not affect everyone equally. Black and Indigenous communities, newcomers, people with disabilities and low-income households are among those disproportionately affected 1. When families are focused on surviving the week, civic life, volunteering, and community-building often get put on the back burner, even though neighbourhoods thrive when everyone’s needs are met.
This is not only unfair, it is destabilizing.
What Toronto Needs
Toronto already has important safety nets such as food banks, student nutrition programs, and community food organizations like FoodShare Toronto, which provides workshops, supports initiatives, and distributes produce.
But food banks alone are not enough. Real solutions mean living wages, affordable housing, and policy changes that reduce the number of people forced to rely on emergency food in the first place.
How HayaHelps Works
HayaHelps is part of that deeper solution through community action, mutual aid, and local support like our Warm Up the 6ix initiative. Warm Up The 6ix program supports Indigenous and homeless families across the Greater Toronto Area struggling to survive harsh winter conditions by distributing winter relief kits and balanced meals.
Are we ready to invest in lasting change? Yes.
HayaHelps is ready, and we work every day to build a Toronto where no one goes hungry. Join us in this fight.
Donate to HayaHelps: Launchgood.
Give non-charitable support directly to food banks and food programs.
Volunteer with food programs or with HayaHelps.
Follow HayaHelps on social media, join the newsletter, and contact the team by email at info@hayahelps.com .
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