Household Food Insecurity is a serious public health problem. It occurs when a person is not able to access food regularly and consistently due to financial constraints.
Community members facing food insecurity may:
- Worry about running out of food before there is money to buy more
- Not be able to afford balanced meals
- Not be able to buy food that meets individual and cultural needs
- Miss meals, eat less food then needed, or even go days without food.
Household Food Insecurity in Windsor-Essex
Approximately 20.7% of households in Windsor and Essex County faced food insecurity in 2021-2023. This is 1 in 5 local households who worry about having enough money for food.
How does this impact our community members?
When incomes cannot cover the cost of food and other basic needs, there are severe negative impacts on physical health, mental health, the healthcare system, and overall social well-being, seen across the lifespan.
- Pregnancy
- Increases the likelihood of being treated for perinatal mood disorders
- Children
- Newborns: more likely to experience birth complications, birth defects, or low birth weight.
- Infants: have a higher likelihood of visiting an emergency department.
- Linked with lower cognitive indicators, dysregulated behavior, greater risk of disordered eating, and emotional distress.
- More likely to have overall worse general health, increased emergency department utilization, and higher rates of forgone medical care.
- Adolescents
- More likely to experience a variety of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
- Adults
- Are at greater risk for mood and anxiety disorders, depression, infectious diseases, chronic pain, and poor oral health.
- More likely to delay, reduce, or skip filling prescription medication due to cost.
Not for Some
In Windsor-Essex, the weekly cost of groceries for a family of four in 2024 is $274.37. This works out to $1,188.01/month.
For people living on either the minimum wage, Ontario Works, or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), it is often difficult to make ends meet. After paying rent, these individuals must also pay for other necessities such as heat and hydro, transportation, car maintenance and gas, childcare, phone/internet, and other expenses. This means that often little money is left for buying food and people go hungry.
Case Study: Single, Pregnant Person
Lindsay is in her late 20s, lives on her own, and is expecting a baby. She is unable to work due to a chronic health condition and relies on the Ontario Disability Support Program for income. The cost of rent for her one-bedroom apartment takes up 70% of her monthly income. Lindsay tries to eat balanced meals to give her baby a good start. Due to her limited income, this is not always possible. She is finding that she often needs to choose between paying her bills on time or eating enough to not be hungry. Facing stress and anxiety about affording rent, food, and necessities for her baby, she notices her mental and physical health declining.
Case Study: Single Person
Drew is 40 years old and receives Ontario Works (OW). He is currently unemployed due to circumstances outside of his control. Drew tries to pick up work in the gig economy, but with the income claw back on OW, he is unable to get ahead. After accounting for all benefits received, the rent for his bachelor apartment takes up 97% of his income. Drew worries about losing his housing and is unable to pay for food. Despite the temporary relief he gets from visiting food banks and meal programs, he is still severely food insecure, and sometimes goes for a few days without eating.
*For more information, data sources, and cost breakdowns for each case study see the Income Scenarios tab below.
Addressing Food Insecurity
Addressing food insecurity requires going beyond the symptoms of food insecurity (e.g., lack of food) and to the root cause of poverty. Policies that target poverty are needed, including policies that ensure:
- Adequate working incomes and benefits to pay for the necessities of living, like housing, food, and other expenses.
- Adequate social assistance income (e.g., Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program) that reflects the true cost of living.
- Tax subsidies, exemptions, and credits for low-income households.
- Guaranteed basic income for all.
Emergency food programs, such as food banks and meal programs, can offer temporary relief but do not solve food insecurity in the long-term. Those who access these services continue to experience food insecurity.
All people in Windsor-Essex should have consistent access to food, and the community has a role to play to ensure it. Start by educating yourself about what causes hunger and poverty and use your voice to advocate for change!
- Visit the PROOF website and ODPH Monitoring Food Affordability to learn more about poverty, household food insecurity, and the impacts on health.
- Spread the word on food insecurity. Find resources to share by visiting Ontario Dietitians in Public Health.
- Become a Living Wage Employer. Visit Ontario Living Wage Network for more information.
13 Scenarios Based on Income and Benefits in Ontario and Canada, and Windsor and Essex County Food and Housing Costs (May-June 2024).
This data was collected as part of pilot testing of an updated process to monitor food affordability in Ontario. The 61 food items costed are based on the 2019 National Nutritious Food Basket and reflect Canada’s Food Guide. Data does not include: non-food items, foods that may be needed to meet cultural or religious needs, or foods to manage disease conditions, allergies, or intolerances.
The ONFB is based on the most recent Canada's Food Guide, which is not reflective of all religious and cultural groups, as well as traditional Indigenous foods and food procurement practices. The WECHU recognizes this as a significant limitation of this data collection.
The below income scenarios integrate provincial and federal benefits from May to June 2024, including child benefits, GST/HST credits, the Ontario Trillium Benefit, the Canada Worker Benefit, and the Climate Action Incentive Payment. Scenarios use the Windsor Census Metropolitan Area Housing Cost Data from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, October 2023.
Table Legend: OW = Ontario Works, FTMW = Full-Time Minimum Wage, ODSP = Ontario Disability Support Program, OAS/GIS = Old Age Security/ Guaranteed Income Supplement, PTGE = Part Time Precarious Employment in the Gig Economy
| Table 1: Income Scenarios 1-4 |
Scenario 1 | Scenario 2 | Scenario 3 | Scenario 4 |
| Family of Four: OW | Family of Four: One FTMW | Family of Four, Median Income (after tax) | Single Parent Household with Two Children: OW | |
| Monthly Calculations | ||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 2,908.00 | 4,507.00 | 9,685.00 | 2,670.00 |
| Selected Expenses | ||||
| Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include Hydro) | (3 Bdr.) | (3 Bdr.) | (3 Bdr.) | (2 Bdr.) |
| 1,341.00 | 1,341.00 | 1,341.00 | 1,253.00 | |
| Food (2024 ONFB) |
1,188.01 | 1,188.01 | 1,188.01 | 884.99 |
| TOTAL SELECTED EXPENSES | 2,529.01 | 2,529.01 | 2,529.01 | 2,137.99 |
| Funds Remaining for other basic needs | 378.99 | 1,977.99 | 7,155.99 | 532.01 |
| Table 2: Income Scenarios 5-8 |
Scenario 5 | Scenario 6 | Scenario 7 | Scenario 8 |
| One Person Household: OW | One Person Household: ODSP | One Person Household: OAS/GIS | Married Couple: ODSP | |
| Monthly Calculations | ||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 881.00 | 1,465.00 | 2,069.00 | 2,603.00 |
| Selected Expenses | ||||
| Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include Hydro) | (Bachelor) | (1 Bdr.) | (1 Bdr.) | (1 Bdr.) |
| 856.00 | 1,055.00 | 1,055.00 | 1,055.00 | |
| Food (2024 ONFB) |
414.20 | 414.20 | 1,188.01 | 884.99 |
| TOTAL SELECTED EXPENSES | 1,270.20 | 1,469.20 | 1,349.13 | 1,741.81 |
| Funds Remaining for other basic needs | (389.20) | (4.20) | 719.87 | 861.19 |
| Table 3: Income Scenarios 9-13 |
Scenario 9 | Scenario 10 | Scenario 11 | Scenario 12 | Scenario 13 |
| Single Pregnant Person: ODSP | Single Parent Household with Two Children: FTMW | Single Parent Household with Two Children: OW | Family of Four Refugee Claimants: FTMW | One Person Household: PTGE | |
| Monthly Calculations | |||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 1,505.00 | 4,656.00 | 2,863.00 | 3,238.00 | 1,695.00 |
| Selected Expenses | |||||
| Average Monthly Rent (may or may not include Hydro) | (1 Bdr) | (2 Bdr.) | (2 Bdr.) | (3 Bdr.) | (Bachelor) |
| 1,055.00 | 1,253.00 | 1,253.00 | 1,341.00 | 856.00 | |
| Food (2024 ONFB) |
438.05 | 692.60 | 692.60 | 1,188.01 | 414.20 |
| TOTAL SELECTED EXPENSES | 1,493.05 | 1,945.60 | 1,945.60 | 2,529.01 | 1,270.20 |
| Funds Remaining for other basic needs | 11.95 | 2,710.40 | 917.40 | 708.99 | 424.80 |
Where to find
If you or your family is struggling to access food, an emergency food bank can help in the short term. Visit the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association or 211 for more information.
What to Donate
While food banks are not a solution for fixing food insecurity, there are people in need. Food bank needs vary. Call the Windsor Essex Food Bank Association to find out what items are most needed. Consider donating money instead of food, to help meet the unique needs of the clients.
Other considerations:
- Donations should be labelled and sealed.
- Donations should not be expired.
- Ensure that all items needed to make the food item are available at the Food Bank before donating (for example, a box of macaroni and cheese also needs milk and butter to be made).
- Ask yourself, “Would I eat this myself or feed it to my family?” before giving food to a food bank.