A new report from Community Development Halton (CDH) highlights a worrying surge in child poverty across the region, with over 17,000 children living in poverty as of 2022. The organization is urging targeted interventions to address the crisis.

According to the report, based on Statistics Canada’s latest 2022 T1FF data, child poverty in Halton increased by 41% in just two years, rising from 12,100 in 2020 to 17,110 in 2022. This surge reversed previous progress, as poverty rates had been on a decline—from 11% to 8.9% in 2020—before the pandemic triggered a sharp increase, reaching 10.8% in 2021 and 12.6% in 2022.

🔴 Areas with the highest increases:

Milton: Saw the steepest rise, jumping from 8.6% in 2020 to 13.8% in 2022.
Oakville: Reported the highest child poverty rate in the region at 14.4%.
Burlington: Increased to 10.5%.
Georgetown/Acton: Had the lowest rate at 8.1%, but still experienced growth.
📌 Number of children living in poverty (2022):

Oakville: 6,810
Milton: 5,390
Burlington: 3,810
Georgetown/Acton: 1,100
The report also highlights that racialized children are disproportionately affected, reflecting ongoing socioeconomic inequalities within these communities.

⚠️ A growing crisis across Ontario
The situation extends beyond Halton—Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey revealed that 872,000 children in Ontario lived in food-insecure households in 2023, a 27% increase from the previous year.

💡 The impact on children is severe:

Higher health risks
Lower academic performance
Reduced future earning potential
Despite Halton’s reputation as an affluent region, child poverty remains a significant issue. With economic pressures mounting, CDH stresses the need for urgent action to provide support for vulnerable families and implement targeted policies to address systemic barriers contributing to racial and economic disparities.