Photo supplied by United Way Golden Horseshoe
A growing number of Canadians are feeling financial pressure, and United Way Golden Horseshoe says the trend is being reflected in communities across the region.
A new national survey from United Way Centraide Canada, conducted by Léger, found 60 per cent of Canadians now say thinking about their finances makes them feel anxious — a five-point increase in just six months.
The 2026 Financial Anxiety Index also found nearly half of Canadians — 46 per cent — say they could cover basic household expenses for only one month or less if they lost their main source of income. Four in 10 respondents said financial stress has caused them to lose sleep.
Ontario recorded the highest Financial Anxiety Index score in the country at 45.1. The survey found 63 per cent of Ontarians feel anxious about their finances, while 43 per cent report losing sleep because of financial pressures.
United Way Golden Horseshoe says the findings align with what local community agencies have been reporting across Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton and Niagara.
“Every day, our agency partners are seeing more people reaching out for help,” said Brad Park, President and CEO of United Way Golden Horseshoe. “Families who once felt financially secure are now relying on food programs, housing supports, mental health services and other community resources simply to get through the month.”
The organization says local agencies are seeing more first-time food bank users, more students arriving at school hungry, and more families struggling to balance the cost of rent, groceries, utilities and health care.
The report highlights continued financial challenges across the region. United Way says more than 34,000 Halton residents are living below Canada’s official poverty line, while Hamilton’s poverty rate is 7.7 per cent. In Niagara, more than 700 people were identified as experiencing homelessness during the most recent Point-in-Time Count. Haldimand-Norfolk has a low-income rate of 11.7 per cent, while Brant’s rate is 9.5 per cent.
Despite the challenges, the survey also found community supports are making a difference.
Forty per cent of respondents who accessed help from community organizations said those services had a positive impact on their financial situation, while 36 per cent said they helped reduce financial anxiety. Housing supports were especially impactful, with 76 per cent of respondents saying those services were helpful.
“Community organizations are making a real difference,” Park said. “When people have somewhere to turn before a challenge becomes a crisis, they are more likely to regain stability and move forward.”
Last year, United Way Golden Horseshoe invested more than $18 million into communities across the region, supporting more than 440,000 people through 148 agencies delivering 235 programs and projects.
The investments supported initiatives focused on food security, housing stability, mental health, youth programs, financial empowerment and community connections.
Park says the survey is a reminder that financial stress affects more than bank accounts.
“Financial anxiety isn’t simply about household budgets,” he said. “It affects people’s mental health, their ability to concentrate at work or school, their physical wellbeing, and ultimately the strength of our communities.”
United Way Golden Horseshoe says it will continue supporting local programs designed to address financial insecurity and help individuals and families move toward long-term stability.
