Student Food Insecurity Surge: University of Manitoba Sees Sharp Rise in Food Bank Usage Amid Affordability Crisis

From 75 to Over 600: Tracking the Sharp Rise in Usage

Historical data paints a clear picture of escalation. Before COVID-19, the UM Food Bank assisted roughly 75 students monthly, according to University of Manitoba Students' Union (UMSU) reports. By late 2023, numbers climbed to over 600 amid inflation spikes, a trend persisting into 2026. Official UM sustainability pages confirm this 'unprecedented surge,' tying it directly to food insecurity—defined as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the inability to acquire them consistently.

Manitoba-wide, food bank visits reached 64,975 in March 2025 alone, up 17 percent year-over-year and 97 percent since 2021, per Food Banks Canada's Hunger Count 2025. Nationally, visits doubled to over 2.1 million monthly since 2019, with post-secondary educated individuals now comprising 60 percent of users in Manitoba, up from one-third in 2020 according to Harvest Manitoba's Voices report.

• Pre-2020: 75-200 UM students/month
• 2023-2026: 600+ UM students/month
• Manitoba increase: 97% since 2021
• Canada-wide: 99% rise since 2019

Root Causes: Inflation, Housing, and Tuition Pressures

The affordability crisis stems from multiple interconnected factors. Grocery prices in Canada are projected to rise another $994 per family in 2026, per Dalhousie University's Food Price Report. In Winnipeg, average one-bedroom rents exceed $1,500 monthly, consuming over 50 percent of many students' budgets. Even with Manitoba's relatively low undergraduate tuition—averaging $4,728 annually for domestics, 22.5 percent below the national $6,211—combined costs for tuition, housing, and food total $25,000-$35,000 yearly.

International students face steeper hurdles, with fees up to $29,700 plus $10,000-$17,000 for residence and meals. Part-time jobs, once a buffer, now yield stagnant wages amid 25 percent food and shelter cost hikes since 2021. UMSU's 2025-26 budget boosted food bank funding by $2,000 to $17,000, acknowledging these strains.

Exploring university salaries reveals faculty earn modestly, limiting parental support for many first-generation students prevalent at UM.

Academic and Health Impacts on Students

Food insecurity profoundly hampers academic success. Studies link it to lower GPAs, reduced class attendance, and higher dropout risks—effects three to four times more prevalent among postsecondary students (20-50 percent affected) than the general population. At UM, nutrient deficiencies impair concentration, while chronic stress exacerbates mental health issues like anxiety, already high among 39 percent of Canadian students reporting moderate-to-severe insecurity.

Physical tolls include fatigue, weakened immunity, and developmental delays for younger undergrads. A 2023 Canadian Journal of Higher Education study found insecure students 1.5 times more likely to miss exams or extracurriculars, stunting networking vital for higher ed jobs.

Photo by Huzefa Pithawala on Unsplash

Voices from the Frontlines: Student and Staff Perspectives

UM Food Bank Coordinator Mauricio Munoz notes, 'We used to help 100-200 students monthly pre-pandemic; now it's over 600, reflecting deep economic pressures.' Students echo this: many skip meals, opting for ramen over balanced diets, prioritizing rent and books. A 2017 UM study found one-third experienced insecurity, with marginalized groups—Indigenous, newcomers, single parents—hit hardest.

Harvest Manitoba reports women, over two-thirds of clients, face compounded vulnerabilities. For career-bound students, this diverts focus from resumes to survival; resources like free resume templates help, but stability is foundational.

UM's Multifaceted Response: Beyond the Food Bank

UM deploys comprehensive supports. Alongside the food bank, emergency student loans prevent hunger, while the Permaculture Garden yields sustainable produce. Rainbow Gardens aids immigrant families with cultural foods, and Nutrition Education Outreach delivers evidence-based advice. Degrees Diner offers affordable vegan options; Bannatyne is Winnipeg's sole Fair Trade Campus.

UMSU holiday hampers reached record numbers in 2025. For long-term relief, check scholarships and higher ed career advice.

• Food bank: 600+ hampers/month
• Emergency loans: Immediate cash aid
• Community gardens: Local food production
• Fair Trade initiatives: Ethical sourcing

National and Provincial Policy Landscape

Federally, Prime Minister Carney's 2026 Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit targets 12 million, including students, amid record insecurity. Manitoba adjusted student aid shelter allowances in 2024 for realistic housing costs. Yet critics note symbolic gestures fall short; Food Banks Canada urges 50 percent insecurity reduction by 2030 via income boosts.

Tuition rose modestly (0.9 percent nationally for grads), but provinces like Saskatchewan charge 39 percent more than Manitoba. Housing tax credits for developers aim at supply.

Innovative Solutions from Campuses Across Canada

Peers innovate: UBC's Meal Share grants meals thrice yearly; uOttawa fights with emergency funds. Meal Exchange's surveys push policy. Long-term: targeted bursaries, on-campus jobs, financial literacy. UM could expand these, partnering with faculty jobs for stipends.

Step-by-step affordability strategy:

1. Assess budget via apps
2. Apply scholarships/bursaries
3. Access food banks/loans
4. Seek part-time work
5. Advocate policy change

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Toward Sustainable Food Security

Projections warn persistent rises without intervention, but optimism lies in UM's 1,130 agriculture students tackling sustainability. Calls grow for federal tuition relief, universal campus meals. Stakeholders urge multi-perspective action: governments fund, unis innovate, communities donate.

Students, rate experiences at Rate My Professor; explore university jobs, higher ed jobs, career advice. Post a position at post a job. Collective effort can reverse this surge.