More Canadians are cutting back on food because they cannot afford groceries, and younger adults are feeling the pressure particularly hard.
A new Salvation Army survey released November 3 finds that 31% of Canadians have skipped meals or eaten smaller portions because of grocery costs, up from 27% in 2025. Another 15% reported using community food support services, compared with 11% last year.
Both figures are the highest recorded since the organization began tracking them four years ago.
“For many families, making ends meet is no longer about cutting back on extras. It’s about making difficult choices between food, housing and other basic necessities,” said Glenn van Gulik, national spokesperson for The Salvation Army.
Young Canadians Are Struggling More
The findings paint a particularly difficult picture for Canadians aged 18 to 34.
Among this age group, 41% reported skipping or reducing meals, while 23% accessed community food assistance, up from 15% last year.
Managing limited finances is also a challenge for 76% of younger respondents, compared with 55% of Canadians aged 55 and older.
Food affordability is now among Canadians’ three biggest national concerns, with 37% identifying it as a priority, up 11 percentage points from 2025.
Housing Costs Add to the Pressure
Food bills are not the only concern.
The report found that:
- 50% are not confident they could find another suitable, affordable home in their community if they had to move.
- 24% spend at least half their after-tax household income on housing.
- 84% identify high rents or home prices as an obstacle to affordable housing.
- 60% say their household has experienced financial impacts from U.S. tariffs or trade disputes.
Community assistance is helping some households. Among surveyed support-service users, 83% said the services improved their family’s wellbeing.
However, monetary charitable giving declined from 79% in 2025 to 75% in 2026.
About the Survey
The Salvation Army’s 2026 Canadian Poverty and Socioeconomic Analysis was conducted by Edelman Intelligence from September 11 to 18.
It surveyed 1,525 Canadians through the online Angus Reid Forum, with results weighted by age, gender and region. The territories were excluded. As a non-probability survey, it does not have a calculable margin of error.