Food insecurity

Dear Editor:

Enough food starts with enough income. This municipal election, let’s talk about income solutions to food insecurity. 

As community organizations, food banks and food access providers across Guelph and Wellington County, we see every day what happens when people do not have enough income to afford the basics. 

It can look like a parent skipping meals so their children can eat. A senior choosing between groceries and medication. A worker with a full-time job running out of money before the end of the month. A household paying the rent and having little to nothing left for food.  

This is not an isolated problem. One in four households in Guelph-Wellington experienced food insecurity in 2024 – the highest rate on record. The cost of a nutritious food basket for a family of four is $1,187 per month. And food insecurity is not limited to people who are unemployed: 60 per cent of food insecure households rely primarily on wages, salaries or self-employment for their income. 

Behind these numbers are people making impossible choices. 

We are deeply concerned about the growing number of people turning to our services for help. We are deeply grateful to the people, volunteers and donors who make that support possible. At the same time, the growing reliance on emergency food and supports is a sign that too many people do not have enough income to afford the basics. 

While food banks and community food programs provide support for immediate needs, they cannot solve food insecurity. 

Preventing and solving food insecurity means addressing its root cause: inadequate income. 

That requires lasting solutions, such as decent work with fair wages and working conditions, adequate income supports and a basic income, along with action to make housing, transportation and other essentials more affordable. 

Municipalities cannot solve food insecurity alone. Provincial and federal governments have critical roles to play in income supports, employment standards and wages, but municipalities also have tools and influence: they can be living-wage employers, support affordable and deeply-affordable housing, use public spending to create community benefit, make municipal services more affordable and accessible and advocate for strong income security. 

As we approach the municipal election, we are calling on candidates to make income security part of their plans for our community. We are asking voters to ask candidates: What will you do to help prevent food insecurity and ensure people have enough income to afford the basics? 

People should not have to choose between paying the rent and feeding themselves and their families. 

We need to address food insecurity at its root – not simply respond when people run out of options. Enough food starts with enough income. 

Dominica McPherson, Guelph & Wellington Poverty Elimination Collaborative; Alyssandra Kent, Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington; Curt McQueen, Centre Wellington Food Bank; Natalie Orr, Mount Forest Family Health Team; Shawna Lougheed, Arthur Food Bank; Kari Simpson, East Wellington Community Services; Debbie Reynolds, Bungalow Community Luncheon and Community Pantry; Karyn Kirkwood, The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington; Melissa Kwiatkowski, Guelph Community Health Centre and The Seed; Nayssam Shujauddin, Food Uniting Neighbours; Glenna Banda, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin; Gary Skinn, Orangeville Foodbank; Perrin Valli, Stepping Stone; Kristen Cairney, Wyndham House; Crystle Avery, Chalmers; Mike Weickert, Hope House Guelph; Kevin Coghill, Royal City Mission; Marilyn Worobec, Guelph Food Bank; Barb McPhee, North End Harvest Market; Brendan Johnson, Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition; Brian Janzen, All Saints Lutheran Anglican Church and Silvercreek Community Market; Donna Bailey, West Village Community Development Co-operative; Ash Ames, Central Student Association (CSA) and CSA Food Bank