Food Insecurity Part One

Rising rent, soaring grocery prices and other essentials are putting a strain on Ontarians and forcing them to make some difficult decisions. The reality? More households are experiencing food insecurity — the inability to afford nutritious food for optimum health.In Haliburton County, 18 per cent of households are living with food insecurity, with demand for assistance at food banks and social service agencies trying to fill the gaps.Six Ontario communities have already declared food emergencies — Toronto, Mississauga, Cochrane, Kingston, Brockville and Smiths Falls, and the growing issue locally might mean Haliburton County joins the ranks of those struggling communities.CanoeFM recently spoke to a number of local officials and organizations to learn more about food insecurity and food emergencies. In Part One of our series, we'll learn about what factors contribute to declaring a food emergency and the impact of food insecurity on adults and children. In Part Two, we'll learn what's being done locally to address the issue.