Welcome to our new website

We’ve redesigned niagararegion.ca to make it easier to find what you need. We’re still putting on the finishing touches, so over the next few weeks you may notice:

  • Search is still learning. Some results may be incomplete or out of date. Try browsing by topic from the main menu.
  • Some links may not work. Old bookmarks and links may lead to pages that have moved.
  • Pages are still being updated. We’re reviewing content across the site and improving it as we go.

Food affordability and insecurity

Increasing Niagara's housing supply, investing in safe and reliable infrastructure, and ensuring programs meet changing community need remain top priorities as we continue to welcome new residents and businesses.

What household food insecurity means

Household food insecurity is not having enough money to buy food. Due to a lack of money, people who are food insecure may:

  • Worry about running out of food
  • Compromise quality and quantity of food
  • Miss meals, limit their intake or go without

Household food insecurity can take a toll on health and well-being. People who are food insecure are more likely to have:

  • Poor diets and consume less fruits and vegetables
  • Poorer physical health and are at risk for many chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis and back problems
  • An increased risk for depression, anxiety disorder, mood disorders or suicidal thoughts

Children who experience food insecurity at an early age are more likely to develop asthma and mental health problems that persist into adolescence and adulthood.

A house with a door

20.7%

of households in Niagara are food insecure (Canadian Income Survey, 2022)

Home child care with provider and child

18.3%

of Niagara children and youth aged one to 17 live in food insecure households (Canadian Health Survey of Children and Youth, 2019)

Cost of nutritious food

Niagara Region Public Health collects the cost of nutritious food through the Nutritious Food Basket survey. The results are used to find out if nutritious eating is affordable for individuals and families in Niagara.

The survey collects the lowest cost of 61 basic food items from large chain grocery stores across Niagara to provide an average minimum cost of nutritious eating. Food items are based on Canada's Food Guide, and the eating patterns and behaviours of Canadians.

Food items in the survey fall into the following four categories:

  • Vegetables and fruit
  • Protein foods
  • Whole grains
  • Fats and oils

The survey does not include personal care items (such as personal hygiene products, toilet paper, soap, diapers), processed or convenience foods (such as frozen meals and snack foods), religious or cultural foods, infant food or special diet foods (such as gluten-free).

The survey does not reflect how much someone should spend on food.

What this looks like for Niagara households

The Nutritious Food Basket survey and average rental prices show how much money households have left for other necessities — such as utilities, transportation, child care, clothing and cell phone — after paying for rent and food.

One person household

Ontario Works
Monthly food cost: $435
Share of income needed for food: 51%
Left after rent and food: -$525

Single parent, two children

Ontario Works
Monthly food cost: $884
Share of income needed for food: 32%
Left after rent and food: $436

Family of four

One full-time minimum wage earner
Monthly food cost: $1,203
Share of income needed for food: 31%
Left after rent and food: $1,220

One person household (senior)

Old Age Security / Guaranteed Income
Monthly food cost: $308
Share of income needed for food: 13%
Left after rent and food: $756

All figures based on the 2024 Nutritious Food Basket survey and average Niagara rental prices. Costs are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Full breakdown of survey results and income scenarios

Household unit type Weekly cost Monthly cost

Family of four - two adults (31-50), two children (male 14, female 8)

 $287 $1,248

Single parent household - One adult (female 31-50), two children (male 14, female 8)

 $214 $930

Couple - two adults (31-50)

 $166 $721

One person household - male aged 31-50

 $100 $435

One person household (senior) - female over age 70

 $71 $308

An additional five per cent is added to the total cost of the Nutritious Food Basket to account for meal preparation and cooking needs, such as spices, condiments, coffee / tea. All costs are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Children

Group Age Weekly cost Monthly cost
Boys 2 to 3 $43 $189
Boys 4 to 8 $49 $213
Girls 2 to 3 $43 $189
Girls 4 to 8 $49 $211

Males

Group Age Weekly cost Monthly cost
Males 9 to 13 $64 $276
Males 14 to 18 $88 $381
Males 19 to 30 $89 $386
Males 31 to 50 $83 $362
Males 51 to 70 $73 $319
Males Over 70 $68 $295

Females

Group Age Weekly cost Monthly cost
Females 9 to 13 $63 $272
Females 14 to 18 $75 $326
Females 19 to 30 $69 $298
Females 31 to 50 $68 $293
Females 51 to 70 $62 $268
Females Over 70 $59 $256

Pregnant and breastfeeding

Group Age Weekly cost Monthly cost
Pregnant 18 and younger $89 $385
Pregnant 19-30 $88 $384
Pregnant 31-50 $88 $382
Breastfeeding 18 and younger $86 $374
Breastfeeding 19-30 $85 $368
Breastfeeding 31-50 $78 $337

An additional five per cent is added to the total cost of the Nutritious Food Basket to account for meal preparation and cooking needs, such as spices, condiments, coffee / tea. All costs are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  • The monthly cost is equal to the weekly cost multiplied by 4.345
  • To calculate food expenses for a family of three, five per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
  • To calculate food expenses for two people living together, 10 per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket
  • To calculate food expenses for a person living alone, 20 per cent is added to the monthly Nutritious Food Basket

Income scenario Monthly income Average monthly rent (% of income needed for rent)

Cost of nutritious eating (% of income needed for food)

 Remaining funds

Family of four (two adults, two children), Ontario Works

 $2,956

$1,419 (54%)

$1,203 (41%)

 $334

Family of four (two adults, two children), one full-time minimum wage earner

 $3,842

$1,419 (37%)

$1,203 (31%)

 $1,220

Family of four (two adults, two children), two median after tax incomes

 $10,201

$1,419 (14%)

$1,203 (12%)

 $7,579

Single parent household, with two children, Ontario Works

 $2,709

$1,389 (48%)

$884 (32%)

 $436

Married couple, Ontario Disability Support Program

 $2,212

$1,224 (55%)

$721 (33%)

 $267
One person household, Ontario Works $861

$951 (110%)

$435 (51%)

 $-525
One person household, Ontario Disability Support Program $1,467

$1,224 (83%)

$435 (30%)

 $-192
One person household, Old age Security / Guaranteed Income $2,288

$1,224 (53%)

$308 (13%)

 $756
One person household, living wage $2,691

$1,224 (45%)

$883 (33%)

 $584
Family of four (two adults, two children), living wage $3,992

$1,419 (36%)

$1,203 (30%)

 $1,413

Total monthly income includes income from social assistance or wages as well as applicable provincial and federal income supports such as the Canada Child Benefit, Ontario Child Benefit, and HST/GST credit. Data for income scenarios is based on the 2023 tax year and is current as of June 2024. The total income across scenarios does not reflect more recent increases to the Canada Child Benefit or the one-time doubling of the HST/GST rebate (grocery retail) for 2024. Retail costs reflect average rent paid for occupied units in Niagara and do not reflect the current asking price of vacant units.

Taking action on food insecurity

Public policies, such as senior pensions, child benefit programs and other social assistance programs, can improve the financial circumstances of households and reduce food insecurity.

However, income support received through these programs is often not enough, and households are still forced to compromise food quality and quantity to pay the bills.

Niagara Region Public Health is calling on the federal and provincial governments to implement policies that would:

  • Increase minimum wage
  • Reduce taxes for the lowest tax brackets
  • Increase social assistance rates
  • Further study a basic income guarantee — a payment to eligible families or individuals that ensures a minimum income level regardless of employment status

How you can take action on food insecurity

Learn about the root causes of food insecurity from PROOF — Food Insecurity Policy Research.

Are you an individual or an organization passionate about addressing food insecurity in Niagara?

Seek or form opportunities for coordination and collaboration on advocacy, service provision, or other programs that strive to improve food access for individuals and families in Niagara.

Join the Niagara Food Security Network.

Write a letter to your MP / MPP calling for solutions to improve the financial circumstances of individuals and families including:

  • Provide social assistance programs that are adequate in helping to cover the cost of living and necessities
  • Provide a basic income guarantee
  • Raise the minimum wage and create jobs that pay a living wage
  • Ensure attainable and affordable housing
  • Provide income tax filing support or reduce income taxes for low-income households

Learn what can be done to address food insecurity.

Voices of food insecurity in Niagara

In 2020, the Strengthening Food Security in Niagara project, led by the Food Security in Niagara Community Collaborative, gathered voices of individuals living in Niagara who are experiencing food insecurity.

I am constantly worried; I compromise on what I buy. I only can go shopping when my cheque is in at the beginning of the month and the food I can afford is often low in stock or the shelf is empty.

...it's never over; I never get ahead.

Mom goes without. Stretching to make last; eating unhealthy because it's too expensive for meats and fruit and veg; my chronic pain could be better managed if cost of living wasn't so overwhelming.