By Gazette Staff

October 22nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

A new national survey from Léger and United Way Centraide Canada reveals a stark picture of growing financial strain across the country, one that is increasingly visible in Halton and Hamilton communities.

According to the 2025 United Way Centraide Financial Anxiety Survey, more than half of Canadians (55%) say thinking about their finances makes them feel anxious,

and 41% experience physical stress symptoms when talking about money.

Alarmingly, 42% of people in Canada report that if they lost their main source of income, they could only cover basic expenses for less than one month.

Financial stress is taking a real toll on Canadians’ well-being. More than one-third (35%) say they lose sleep over money, 32% report family conflict or tension due to financial pressure, and 30% struggle to focus at work or school because of financial worries. Even higher rates of anxiety and sleeplessness are reported among lower- income households, where two-thirds (67%) of Canadians earning under $40,000 report feeling anxious about their finances.

“The data makes one thing clear. Financial anxiety is a crisis that goes far beyond people’s wallets,” says Brad Park, President & CEO, United Way Halton & Hamilton. “It affects mental health, relationships, and community stability. Here in Halton and Hamilton, families are feeling those same pressures every day.”

Finncial Strain Hitting Home in Halton and Hamilton

 While the national data paints a worrying picture, local indicators reveal that many families in Halton and Hamilton are living with growing uncertainty and financial stress. According to data from Community Development Halton and the Social Planning & Research Council of Hamilton:

Child poverty has climbed to 6% in Halton and remains at 13% in Hamilton, above regional averages.

The living wage needed to afford basic necessities is now $26.00/hour in Halton and $21.30/hour in Hamilton, both far above Ontario’s minimum

Food insecurity continues to rise, with food program usage up 25% in Halton since 2023 and food bank demand in Hamilton increasing steadily each year.

• • • 6% of Halton households spend more than 6% of their income on home energy costs, leaving less for food, childcare, and other essentials.
  • • Nearly 1 in 5 local residents contacting 211 cite financial or housing-related distress as a top concern.

Despite their different economic profiles, both regions face shared challenges, from housing and food insecurity to income instability, that are intensifying the daily stress experienced by residents.