Financial Anxiety Surges in Halton: United Way Warns of Growing Strain as Families Struggle to Cope

By: Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

A new national survey paints a stark picture of growing financial stress across Canada, with local families in Halton and Hamilton feeling the pressure.

According to the 2025 United Way Centraide Financial Anxiety Survey, conducted by Léger, 55 per cent of Canadians say thinking about their finances makes them anxious, while 41 per cent experience physical stress symptoms when talking about money. Forty-two per cent report they could cover basic expenses for less than a month if they lost their main source of income.

Financial strain is taking a toll on well-being. Thirty-five per cent of respondents say they lose sleep over money, 32 per cent report family conflict and 30 per cent struggle to focus at work or school. Among households earning under $40,000, two-thirds report feeling anxious about finances.

“The data makes one thing clear. Financial anxiety is a crisis that goes far beyond people’s wallets,” said Brad Park, president and CEO of 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.”

Local indicators echo the national trend. One in eight Halton residents and 11 per cent of Hamilton residents live below the low-income measure. Child poverty has climbed to 12.6 per cent in Halton and remains at 13 per cent in Hamilton. The living wage is now $26 an hour in Halton and $21.30 in Hamilton, well above Ontario’s minimum wage.

Food insecurity is rising, with food program usage up 25 per cent in Halton since 2023 and food bank demand in Hamilton increasing annually. Nearly one in five local residents contacting 211 cite financial or housing distress as a top concern.

United Way Halton & Hamilton funds 38 programs aimed at building financial stability, including financial literacy, food security, housing support and mental health services. “We’re not just helping people make ends meet, we’re helping them rebuild stability and confidence,” Park said.

Residents struggling to make ends meet are encouraged to contact 211, a free, confidential service available 24/7 in more than 150 languages. Calls for help with rent, utilities and food have surged locally, mirroring national trends.

United Way is calling on donors, businesses and community leaders to strengthen the social safety net. “Financial anxiety isn’t just a personal challenge, it’s a community issue,” Park said. “When we invest in United Way, we’re investing in a stronger, more compassionate community for everyone.”

For more information or to donate, visit uwhh.ca. The full Léger report is available at unitedway.ca.