Food bank usage in Canada hit record highs: what the numbers mean
Canadian food banks reported record visits in 2025 and 2026. Here is what is driving the surge, who is using food banks now, and what it says about the cost of living.
Food Banks Canada reported record-breaking visit numbers in its annual HungerCount report, with monthly food bank visits surpassing two million for the first time. This is not a problem confined to the traditionally homeless or unemployed — it is increasingly a story about working Canadians who simply cannot make the math work.
The numbers
2,000,000+
Monthly food bank visits have roughly doubled in five years. Food Banks Canada describes this as the worst period of food bank usage in the organization's history.
Who is using food banks now?
Working adults and families — the fastest-growing segment of food bank users
Seniors on fixed incomes who cannot absorb rising food and housing costs
Students, particularly international students facing high tuition and limited work hours
New immigrants and refugees in their first years in Canada
Single-parent households where one income must cover housing, childcare and food
What is driving the surge?
The food bank crisis is not caused by any single factor. It is the collision of several pressures:
Housing costs that absorb 40 to 60 percent of income for many low-income households
Grocery inflation that has compounded year over year since 2021
Wage growth that has not kept pace with the combined housing + food + transport cost increase
Expiry of pandemic-era benefits and income supports
High interest rates that increased carrying costs for households with variable debt
What does this mean for the grocery conversation?
Food bank usage is the downstream symptom of a cost-of-living crisis in which grocery prices are one of the sharpest pinch points. When housing takes the majority of income, even modest food inflation becomes the difference between eating and not eating. The food bank numbers are a signal that the grocery affordability conversation is not abstract — it is urgent.
How to help
Donate to your local food bank — monetary donations stretch further than food
Advocate for policy that addresses root causes: housing affordability, living wage, and grocery market competition
If you need help: food banks exist for you. There is no shame in using them.
Frequently asked questions
How many Canadians use food banks?
As of the most recent HungerCount report, food banks across Canada are recording over two million visits per month — an all-time high and roughly double the level of five years ago.
Why are food bank visits increasing in Canada?
The surge is driven by a collision of high housing costs, compounding grocery inflation, stagnant wages relative to cost of living, and the expiry of pandemic-era supports.
Are working Canadians using food banks?
Yes. Working adults and families are the fastest-growing segment of food bank users in Canada. Many food bank users are employed but cannot make the combined cost of housing, food and transport work on their income.
How can I help my local food bank?
Monetary donations are most impactful because food banks can buy in bulk at wholesale prices. Check your local food bank's website for specific needs and volunteer opportunities.
Put this into practice
Grocery Saver surfaces this week's biggest sale prices in your city and plans an optimized multi-store route so you can act on the kind of advice in this post in five minutes a week.