As financial anxiety grows, United Way Halton & Hamilton is at the heart of a network responding with compassion, stability, and lasting solutions.
The other day, I stopped by a local grocery store to pick up a few essentials on my way home. It wasn’t much – just some produce, bread and a few basics. I was sure the cash in my wallet would cover it.
But as I watched the total rise at the checkout, I realized I didn’t. I had to reach for my card to make up the unexpected difference.
I walked out feeling grateful. Grateful that I had a safety net, even for something so routine. And in that moment, I couldn’t help but think about the thousands of people across Halton and Hamilton who don’t have that cushion.
Families juggling rent and utility bills. Parents trying to stretch every dollar to cover groceries. Seniors worried about rising living costs. Young people watching their bank balance dwindle before payday even arrives.
The Weight of Worry
The economic strain people are carrying right now is heavy, and growing heavier.
A national survey by Léger and United Way Centraide Canada found that 55% of Canadians feel anxious just thinking about their finances. Even more troubling, 42% say they couldn’t cover even one month of basic expenses if they lost their income.
That pressure doesn’t just empty wallets. It shows up in the form of lost sleep, tension at home, and the mental fog that makes it hard to focus at work or school.
Here in our region, approximately 12% of residents live below the low-income measure.
While the economic landscapes may differ, the daily challenges are strikingly similar. Rising housing costs, food insecurity, utility bills climbing ever higher, and the ever-present fear that one small emergency could unravel it all.
The data from 211, a free and confidential helpline, brings this picture into sharper focus. 1in 5 calls are now from people experiencing financial or housing-related distress. Behind each one is a story of a neighbour just trying to stay afloat. And those calls are only increasing.
A Network of Support That Responds
At United Way Halton & Hamilton, we’re not just tracking these trends, we’re responding to them.
At the heart of our mission is a network of support, grounded in community and built to meet rising needs with compassion, action, and proven results.
Our Poverty to Possibility investment stream supports 38 programs that help people navigate and overcome the challenges of financial instability.
These include financial literacy and job-readiness supports, access to healthy food, housing stability programs, eviction prevention services, and mental health counselling that addresses the emotional toll of financial strain.
And this is just one piece of the broader picture. In total, United Way Halton & Hamilton supports 124 programs, which last year alone reached more than 226,500+ people across Halton and Hamilton. Every one of those numbers represents someone who found relief, resources, and a path forward.
It Takes All of Us
The demand for support keeps growing. But so does our capacity for compassion and action.
When you give to United Way, you’re strengthening the safety net that so many are now relying on. You help someone breathe easier. Sleep better. Focus again. Hope again.
Because when one of us succeeds, our whole community thrives.
Strengthen the safety net in our community. Donate today at uwhh.ca
Brad Park
President and CEO
United Way Halton & Hamilton
