A growing number of Canadians are increasingly pessimistic about the future of their finances and their ability to provide for basic needs such as food and housing, says a new survey release Monday by the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army serves families impacted by financial hardship (CNW Group/The Salvation Army)

“We’re seeing more and more families asking for our assistance for the first time,” said Lt-Colonel John Murray, Salvation Army Canada territorial secretary for communications. “With the threat of a recession, we anticipate this number will continue to grow. Now more than ever before, we are here for people who need us.

“The results of this survey confirm what we’ve been seeing for the past 12 months. The number of Canadians facing significant hardship is growing, and those impacted are no longer the most vulnerable in society – they could be a friend, neighbour, or family member. We ask that as Canadians go about their holiday spending this year, that they please consider setting some money aside for a charitable cause, like The Salvation Army.”
The survey found that 33 per cent of respondents said they were pessimistic about the future of their personal finances, an increase of 10 percentage points from a similar study in 2021. One quarter (25 per cent) said they were extremely concerned about having enough income to cover their basic needs. It also showed that 52 per cent said they had faced food security challenges in the past year, a trend that corresponds with what The Salvation Army’s staff have been seeing at food banks and shelters across the country.

Of those who accessed a food bank in the past year, 59 per cent were first time users.

Also, 47 per cent of respondents said they expect to face challenges with food security, 10 per cent expect challenges to housing security and 33 per cent said they expect challenges due to limited financial resources.

(Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 a Top Ten Business Journalist in the world and only Canadian)

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