Grand Erie report finds 1 in 4 households face food insecurity, new resource endorsed

Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) has released its latest report showing that one in four households have experienced food insecurity in 2023–24.

The findings highlight the growing challenge many individuals and families face in affording enough nutritious food to support their health and wellbeing.

In a release, GEPH said food insecurity refers to inadequate or unreliable access to food due to financial constraints.

As part of its legislated responsibilities, GEPH collected food affordability data in May 2025 using the Ontario Nutritious Food Basket across 23 grocery stores in the region.

Results show the average monthly cost of a basic nutritious diet for a family of four is approximately $1,200 across the region.

When food costs are considered alongside rent and income, many households cannot meet basic needs.

Local analysis shows a single person receiving Ontario Works in Brantford-Brant falls more than $900 short each month for rent and food alone, while a family of four on Ontario Works in Haldimand-Norfolk is short by more than $700.

The report also includes insights from local residents with lived experience of food insecurity, who described skipping meals, relying on food banks, and experiencing ongoing challenges of trying to make ends meet. Food insecurity is associated with higher rates of chronic disease, mental illness, and increased health-care use, and children in food-insecure households face greater risks to their long-term health and development.

At its meeting on Feb. 18, the GEPH Board of Health endorsed a new Municipal Primer on Food Insecurity, a resource that outlines the causes and local impacts of food insecurity and supports municipalities in understanding their role in responding.

The Primer will be shared with the City of Brantford, County of Brant, Haldimand County and Norfolk County.

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