Driving impact to tackle poverty and hunger
As affordability pressures continue to deepen, food insecurity remains top of mind for millions of Canadians. In Toronto, food banks saw more than 4.1 million visits in 2025. Daily Bread is responding by working across all levels of government to advance solutions that address the root causes of hunger and poverty.
In the last six months alone, Daily Bread met with close to 50 elected officials and government staff, and sent 113 letters underscoring the urgency of government action. Daily Bread’s Who’s Hungry 2025 report—our annual study of food insecurity in Toronto—sparked significant debate, with 25 mentions in the Parliament and the provincial legislature between September 2025 and April 2026. Facility tours and Days of Action at Queen’s Park further strengthened relationships and helped sustain policy momentum.
Removing barriers to secure housing
In Ontario, individuals receiving social assistance lose a significant portion of their benefit—the shelter allowance—if they become unhoused, creating a major barrier to securing housing for more than 30,000 recipients who are homeless. Daily Bread has proposed a reserve fund that would allow this shelter allowance to be saved for up to 12 months and used for first and last month’s rent once housing is secured.
Following the op-ed by Daily Bread’s CEO published in the Toronto Star and meetings with key decision-makers, interest in this solution is growing within government.
Fostering civic engagement
Daily Bread, in partnership with community organizations, hosted federal by-election debates in Scarborough Southwest and University–Rosedale, with nearly 200 community members engaging directly with candidates.
Securing policy wins
Daily Bread’s advocacy continues to deliver meaningful policy change.
Federally, the Canada Disability Benefit was exempted from clawbacks—ensuring individuals can access support without losing other essential benefits. The National School Food Program was made permanent. New federal measures—the Groceries and Essentials Benefit and a proposed National Food Security Strategy—signal growing momentum on tackling hunger. Recent changes to the Disability Tax Credit will improve access to disability supports, delivering an estimated $345 million over six years to Canadians with disabilities.
Locally, Toronto increased investments in student nutrition, housing stability, rental supply, and affordable housing preservation.
Looking ahead
Daily Bread will continue advancing policies that make rent more affordable, work more stable, and incomes adequate —so people can live with dignity in cities like Toronto.
