Public health units in the region, including Huron-Perth, are raising concerns about the increasing number of households that can’t afford basic necessities like food.
In 2024, public health data indicated that one in four households in Southwestern Ontario faced food insecurity, which means they lack consistent access to enough food due to financial difficulties. With housing and living expenses on the rise, many individuals and families find themselves making tough decisions between paying for rent and buying groceries.
“Food insecurity impacts people at every stage of life in Huron-Perth,” said Miriam Klassen, the local unit’s medical officer of health. “Local trends show that affordability is becoming more of a challenge, leaving many households struggling to keep up. Long-term solutions will require a focus on income and financial stability.”
Household food insecurity is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes, a higher risk of chronic diseases, and increased strain on the healthcare system. For children and youth, it can affect concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills, hindering their success in school.
“More people across our region are being forced to make difficult choices about which basic needs they can afford – and too often, food is one of the first things cut,” said Dr. Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health for Southwestern public health, which includes Oxford and Elgin counties as well as the city of St. Thomas. “That has real consequences for physical and mental health. Addressing household food insecurity means ensuring people have enough income to meet their basic needs.”
Many households depend on emergency food programs or face tough decisions such as skipping meals, officials noted. While many low- and moderate-income households struggle after covering housing costs and other essentials, individuals relying on social assistance programs like Ontario Works often find it impossible to pay both rent and buy food even when budgeting carefully.
Ontario public health units track food affordability by comparing food prices with rent against various household income scenarios. In 2024, these scenarios revealed that a single adult receiving Ontario Works in Southwestern Ontario cannot afford both rent and groceries; they face a monthly shortfall ranging from $301 to $859 depending on their location. Many other low- to moderate-income households encounter similar obstacles with little or no money left after handling rent along with essential costs like transportation, utilities, childcare, clothing, and medications.
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE?
Officials emphasized that household food insecurity is a serious yet preventable public health issue requiring coordinated efforts at municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Public health units throughout Southwestern Ontario support solutions recognizing inadequate income as the root cause of this problem. They suggested several measures:
Increase social assistance rates such as Ontario Works; Enhance income supports for low- and moderate-income households; Implement policies aimed at reducing housing costs along with essential living expenses.
In June 2026, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies adopted a resolution urging the Ontario government to improve benefits under Ontario Works (OW), for example by aligning OW earned income exemption with the higher earned income exemption provided under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
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