Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) has released a new report that puts a human face on food insecurity in Canada. Beyond Hunger exposes the realities of what it’s like to live with food insecurity in this country. From poor physical and mental health to the toll on relationships, it’s a gut-wrenching window into how a lack of access to healthy food impacts a person’s whole life.

The report, which surveyed 561 people across the country, includes dramatic first-hand accounts of living with food insecurity. Individuals share how they cope—from not celebrating holidays, to skipping medications because there’s no food to take with them, to isolating to hide the issue from friends and family. 

Even before COVID-19, food insecurity affected nearly 4.5 million Canadians. In the first two months of the pandemic, that number grew by 39 per cent. Food insecurity now affects one in seven people, disproportionately impacting low-income and BIPOC communities.

The report shares human stories and suggests key policy recommendations that can change lives. Given last week’s Throne speech, which referred to upcoming action on food insecurity, income supports, child care, affordable housing, and support for racialized and Indigenous Canadians, now is the time to put these issues front and centre.