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 between2022 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, foundonein fourhouseholds experienced food insecurity in 2023, up significantly from the previous yearwhen onein sevenhouseholds struggled to afford groceries.

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

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

Emily Coja, asenior nutritionist with OPH whopresented 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 theCanada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

Ottawa's Medical Officer of HealthDr. 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 notedthat 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 includingabasic income for working age adults and raisingsocial assistance rates to reflect the current cost of living.

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

"We've seen a staggering 90 per centincrease in visits since 2019, and we simply cannot keep up with demand," Wilsonsaid.

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.