Food bank demand has been breaking new annual records since the pandemic. The situation is likely to worsen in the coming years, according to an analysis by the firm Aviseo.
The number of requests for assistance could increase by 25.8 per cent in three years, according to estimates from the firm that made this projection at the request of the Food Banks of Quebec (BAQ).
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In 2025, the network responded to 3.1 million requests for food assistance. This figure is expected to jump to 3.9 million in 2028.
The forecasts are worrying, says BAQ’s general manager, Martin Munger, in an interview.
The network is already dealing with “enormous pressure,” while the number of requests has increased by 61 per cent since 2019. “There are organizations in the network that are on the verge of breaking down,” warns Munger.
The purchasing power of less well-off households has decreased, particularly due to food inflation and rising housing costs.
“I think the housing crisis won’t be resolved in a year or two,” predicts the community leader. “It’s going to be very much present for a long time to come.”
The rising price of used cars also puts a strain on the budgets of households without access to public transportation. “In rural areas, even if you’re a low-income person, you still need a car like that,” Munger points out.
Previously, food banks primarily provided temporary support to people experiencing hardship, such as job loss. Now, food banks are increasingly serving workers whose wages are insufficient to meet their basic needs, notes Munger.
“There are more and more people who don’t have enough money to feed themselves,” he laments.
He points out that one in five Quebecers is experiencing food insecurity. “The question I ask myself is: ‘At what point will Quebec society decide that this proportion is too high?’”
Aviseo’s forecasts demonstrate that food banks will need support to meet demand, he argues.
As part of the pre-budget consultations, BAQ is asking the government for funding to purchase food. The organization would like to see subsidies for food bank infrastructure renewed in 2027 and support extended to local organizations.
“Local organizations often have facilities that are not adequate to meet this level of demand,” he explains. “We can send food, but they cannot necessarily store it.”
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
