Nearly 1 in 4 Ottawa households struggled to afford food in 2023: OPH

The number of households in Ottawa that struggle to afford food nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023, according to a report by the city's public health agency.

The Ottawa Public Health (OPH) report, which was presented at an Ottawa Board of Health meeting Monday night, found one in four households experienced food insecurity in 2023, up significantly from the previous year when one in seven households struggled to afford groceries.

The report also looked at the findings of the 2024 Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey, which measures the cost of basic nutrition according to the current recommendations in Canada's food guide.

According to the results of the annual NFB survey, it costs about $1,244 a month to supply a family of four with adequate food. That's up four per cent since 2023 and 10 per cent since 2022.

Emily Coja, a senior nutritionist with OPH who presented the survey's findings Monday, said the report demonstrates that low-wage earners and those who rely on social assistance don't have the money to afford adequate groceries.

"The real crisis is that incomes are not increasing at the same rate, and so people are stuck having to rely on food programs and experiencing food insecurity in our community," Coja told CBC News.

Food insecurity remained relatively stable between 2020 and 2021 due to government assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches called the rapid increase in food insecurity "stunning," and noted it's made worse by the high cost of housing.

"The affordability of housing has really dropped in terms of the housing that's available and the rent that is out there. When you look at the market rent, you try to go and find a place to live, those figures have climbed," Etches told CBC on Monday.

Food bank 'simply cannot keep up with demand'

The report noted that while people experiencing food insecurity are relying on community programs, "food programs are not the solution." Instead, governments need to focus on combating poverty.

The report suggests policy changes including a basic income for working age adults and raising social assistance rates to reflect the current cost of living.

Ottawa Food Bank CEO Rachael Wilson also addressed the board Monday, and said the NFB survey validates the level of food insecurity the charity sees across its network of 98 food programs in the city.

"We've seen a staggering 90 per cent increase in visits since 2019, and we simply cannot keep up with demand," Wilson said.

Wilson said the Ottawa Food Bank needs a new source of funding or else it will have to reduce the amount of food it distributes starting in January.

She also agreed with the report's statement that food programs are not the solution, and that governments need to tackle poverty using income-based approaches.

"Unless this pressure is put on all levels of government to do their part, it will continue to be downloaded to municipalities and charities," Wilson said.