Hard to Stomach

Food bank use is growing, particularly among working people. So with more people in need of help than ever, why is it still so hard to talk about? Nana aba examines why the stigma around food insecurity still exists, and how misconceptions about hunger impact the lives of half a million people across Ontario.

Food insecurity doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s often connected to factors like where you live, your source of income and even your race. While there’s no instant fix for these interconnected issues, solutions have to start somewhere. So we asked the people we’ve heard from throughout the series: what's the one thing that can help you now, or that could have helped you then?

How do you decide between buying bread and keeping the lights on? Why, in a food-rich province, are three million visits to food banks? What happens when fresh produce is out of reach? Hard to Stomach focuses on real people facing - and fighting against - food insecurity in communities across Ontario from north to south. They could be your co-worker, your neighbour or your friend. In this four-part series, CBC's Nana aba Duncan explores what food insecurity feels and sounds like through the stories of people who have experienced it firsthand.

For some, CERB was a financial lifeline. It meant that for the first time in a long while, recipients could afford to keep a stocked fridge. For other Ontarians, the $500 weekly installment didn’t go quite far enough. In this episode you'll hear, firsthand, the impact government assistance can have... and what happens when that support changes.