Research

Last year, food bank visits in Toronto reached an all-time high of 4.1 million — more than half a million higher than the year before, and a 340% increase since 2019.

The hunger crisis is deepening. What was once a short-term emergency has become a long-term reality, as more people rely on food banks more frequently and for longer periods of time.

These are our neighbours, coworkers, and classmates — people with post-secondary education or higher, working multiple jobs, yet still struggling to put food on the table.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. To build a city where everyone can live with dignity, all levels of government must enact policies that increase access to affordable housing, provide adequate income supports, and ensure access to decent, stable jobs. By addressing the root causes of poverty and food insecurity, we can move beyond emergency responses and create a Toronto where no one goes hungry.

Key Findings