Ottawa Public Health: Food insecurity on the rise in Ottawa – “Black and Indigenous communities continue to be disproportionately affected”
Source: Ottawa Public Health
The number of Ottawa households experiencing food insecurity is on the rise, according to Ottawa Public Health.
The 2025 Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) report shows 25.7 per cent of households experienced food insecurity in 2024, up from 23.7 per cent in 2023 and 16.3 per cent in 2019.
“Children, as well as Black and Indigenous communities continue to be disproportionately affected,” said a report for the Ottawa Board of Health, submitted by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Trevor Arnason.
“Because poverty, driven by inadequate and unstable income, is the root cause of household food insecurity (HFI), strengthening income-based supports are necessary to effectively address this issue.”
Dr. Arnason’s report says Ontario’s recent increase in the minimum wage on Oct. 1 to $17.60 an hour from $17.20 an hour still falls below Ottawa’s living wage of $22.80 an hour.
What is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity means not having enough money to buy the food you need. It can look like:
- worrying about running out of food
- compromising on the quantity and quality of food
- skipping meals or going without eating
Download the 2025 Nutritious Food Basket Infographic (pdf – 147 KB)
Food Insecurity is a Serious Public Health Problem
In 2024, over 1 in 4 households (25.7%) in Ottawa experienced food insecurity (1). This is a significant increase from 15.3% of households in 2019 (1).
Food insecurity has an impact on physical and mental health. People experiencing food insecurity are more likely to (2-11):
- have mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety
- have chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes
- catch infections
- have poor oral health
- be injured
Management of chronic health conditions becomes harder because of the added costs to follow therapeutic diets and the ability to afford medications (5, 12, 13). Food insecurity puts a strain on the healthcare system because of the increased medical care needed (1).
The Cost of Eating Well in Ottawa
Every year, Ottawa Public Health monitors food affordability by conducting the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey and comparing local food and housing costs to income.
In 2025, the monthly cost of the NFB for a family with two adults and two children, ages 8 and 14, was $1,180 (15).
The Cost of Living in Ottawa for Low-Income Households
When food costs from NFB and housing costs are compared to income, the results have consistently shown that low-income households are unable to afford the cost of basic living, including food.
To provide a more comprehensive view of housing costs in Ottawa, housing data comes from both Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Rentals.ca. CMHC provides average rental prices, while Rentals.ca provides current market rates.
Taking Action
Access to food is a basic human right.
Food insecurity is an income program that cannot be solved by food-based solutions. There is something that we can all do about it:
- Contact your municipal, provincial and federal government officials to express your support for solutions that help everyone afford the cost of living, such as:
- Higher social assistance rates
- Secure employment opportunities, including a living minimum wage
- A basic income guarantee (Bill S-206)
- More affordable housing, public transit and childcare
- Reduced income tax for the lowest income households
- Free income tax filing support at community tax clinics
- Share this information about food insecurity.
- Become a Living Wage Employer.
To learn more
Webinar: Nutritious Food Basket 2023 and Food Insecurity in Ottawa (YouTube) – available in English only
PROOF Food Insecurity Policy Research