‘It could be your neighbour’: Nearly 1 in 3 Canadians are skipping or reducing meals because they can’t afford food

A new study by The Salvation Army has revealed that many Canadians are having to make hard choices due to affordability concerns, with many reporting reducing or skipping meals altogether because they can’t afford to buy food. 

The Salvation Army has unveiled its 2026 Canadian Poverty and Socioeconomic Analysis on Tuesday, revealing that many residents are struggling to afford food. The study surveyed over 1,500 Canadians on their behaviours when it comes to food and housing affordability and financial stability. 

The analysis shows 31 per cent of Canadians said they have skipped or reduced their meals in size because they couldn’t afford groceries, going up from 27 per cent in 2025. Another 15 per cent of respondents said they had to access community food support, an increase from 11 per cent last year. Both numbers are at their highest in the four years the study was conducted. 

Cortney Harkin, a public relations officer at The Salvation Army, says the report reflects the difficult reality faced by many Canadians in the current economic scene. 

“What stands out most is that while this report is full of statistics, it’s really about the people. It’s about individuals and families who are working hard, trying to manage their finances and are still struggling to keep up with the rising costs of living,” she told Now Toronto. 

Young Canadians particular affected 

The study is also revealing that younger Canadians are particularly affected by food accessibility concerns.

While 31 per cent of overall Canadians reported skipping meals or reducing portions, 41 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 said the same. 

Meanwhile, 23 per cent of younger Canadians said they needed to access community food support, which was an increase from 15 per cent last year. 

Another 76 per cent of those in that age group said they faced challenges to manage expenses with limited resources, compared to 55 per cent for those older than 55. 

On the other hand, Harkin emphasizes that people from all age groups and walks of life are looking for support, including many who have never accessed support before. 

“At the Salvation Army, we see all walks of life, so it could be a young person who’s just starting out and is trying to buy their first home. It could be a single parent with children. It could be a retired person who’s working on a fixed income, and that fixed income just isn’t enough for them anymore,” she said.

“Some people I think have in their mind a specific demographic or a specific type of person who might be needing assistance or needing help, and that’s truly just not the case anymore.” 

Affordable housing also a big concern

The study also revealed that Canadians are not only struggling to afford food, as others are also reporting concerns about accessing housing.

About half of the survey respondents said they are not confident they would be able to find another home they could afford in their communities if they had to move out now. 

Canadians are also spending a large portion of their paycheques on housing, with 24 per cent saying at least half of their household’s income is allocated to housing. Meanwhile, 84 per cent say high prices are a barrier to finding suitable housing while 59 per cent said affordable rentals are the hardest type of housing to find. 

What could be behind the affordability concerns? 

As mentioned by Harkin, pinpointing exactly what could be behind affordability concerns in Canada could be a difficult task. However, the report also reveals Canadians are concerned about U.S. tariffs. 

The report found that 89 per cent of respondents were concerned about tariffs introduced by the  U.S. onto Canadian goods and services increasing prices for everyday expenses. At the same time, about 26 per cent of respondents said U.S. tariffs are at the top three of Canada’s concerns, which is an increase from 20 per cent in 2025. 

Meanwhile, about 60 per cent said their household has already felt a financial impact from the tariffs, and 58 per cent were concerned about the impact the tariffs have had on their finances. 

“At a time where housing costs and food costs are going up, those tariffs are just an added stressor on top of all of it, and I think that that in combination has really affected a lot of people,” Harkin added. 

‘We can’t do it alone’: The Salvation Army calling for more support 

With more and more Canadians coming to organizations like The Salvation Army for food support, they have been having to find a way to accommodate added demand. 

Last year alone, Harkin said the organization distributed about two million community and shelter meals, plus accommodating 987,000 visits to their physical locations by residents looking for food, clothing, or other support.

At the same time, donations are also going down, as many Canadians facing affordability concerns are no longer able to help. According to the study, charitable donations fell from 79 per cent in 2025 to 75 per cent in 2026, while charitable activities participation also dropped from 65 per cent to 60 per cent. 

“There will be times throughout the year where they notice that their stockpile is getting low, and we do a call out for food donations because they really need the assistance of the community to come together to replenish that stock,” Harkin said. 

“We manage the best that we can. We call on our community for support. We can’t do it alone, of course. So, donations are imperative to be able to continue with those services and to help those vulnerable in our communities and those that are in need.” 

While many are struggling to donate monetarily, Harkin says volunteering can also be a great way to support the cause and give back to the community. 

“It’s really important for people to know that it could be your child’s teacher, it could be your neighbour, it could be your favourite grocery store clerk, it could be whoever,” she said. 

To donate or sign up to volunteer, contributors can head to The Salvation Army website.