With the rising cost of living, spending more to buy less food is a reality for an increasing share of Canadian families. The study “Food insecurity among Canadian families” offers insight into families most at risk of food insecurity, looking at those below and above the poverty line. It also examines the possible role of assets and debt in food insecurity.
According to data from the Canadian Income Survey, the proportion of families who were food insecure in the 12 months preceding the survey increased from 16% in 2021 to 18% in 2022. Among those at the highest risk of food insecurity were single mothers, Indigenous families, and Black families.
The majority of food-insecure families had incomes above the poverty line
Income alone cannot explain food availability. Rather, food insecurity stems from various factors, including the stability of income, assets and debt, access to family and social supports, and the cost of living.
Overall, 11% of families had incomes below the poverty line. While these families were most vulnerable to food insecurity, with rates being nearly twice as high as the overall average (35% versus 18%), most families experiencing food insecurity had incomes above the poverty line. In all, about 8 in 10 families that faced food insecurity were above the poverty line.
Single mothers are among the most vulnerable to food affordability
Single mothers were one of the most vulnerable groups, whether below or above the poverty line. In 2022, almost half (48%) of single mothers below the poverty line and 40% above the poverty line struggled with food insecurity. Single mothers most at risk were those with other interrelated risk factors, such as having less than a high school diploma, being unemployed, and living in a rental unit. The rate of food insecurity was highest among Indigenous and Black single mothers.
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