Important context driving the need for these services: In 2022, 16.9% of Canadians were in food-insecure households (up from 12.9% in 2021). Food Banks Canada recorded over 2 million food bank visits in March 2024 — the highest monthly total on record — a 90% increase since 2019. The National Shelter Study reported approximately 16,627 people stayed in shelters on an average night in 2023.