Nova Scotia Food Bank Visits Hit Record High as Affordability Crisis Deepens
Food bank visits in Nova Scotia reached 46,627 in March, an 82% increase since 2019. With more than 23% of users employed and local organizations exhausting their budgets, Feed Nova Scotia is calling for increased provincial income support.
Food Banks Canada reported a record 2.35 million visits to food banks across the country this year, with Nova Scotia experiencing a sharp surge in demand. In March alone, there were 46,627 food bank visits in the province, representing a 7.4% increase since 2025 and an 82% increase since 2019.
The data highlights shifting demographics among those seeking assistance. More than 23% of Nova Scotia food bank users reported employment as their main source of income, up from 14% in 2019. Meanwhile, 42% of clients rely on government assistance as their primary income, though these rates remain below the poverty line. Rising costs for housing and transit are forcing households to prioritize rent and household bills over groceries.
Local organizations are struggling to keep pace with the demand. At the Brunswick Street Mission in Halifax, approximately 35% of visitors this year were using the service for the first time. The mission has already exhausted its entire annual food budget and now spends about $7,500 every week to keep food on the shelves, supplementing supplies with one tonne of food received weekly. As food banks reach capacity limits, some are turning away clients and reducing visit frequency.
In response to the crisis, Feed Nova Scotia is calling for policy changes at the provincial level. The organization is advocating for increases to provincial income support, an expansion of the affordable living tax credit, and the restoration of funding for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program.