A recent report has revealed that one in three middle-income households in New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are struggling to afford sufficient food amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. The 2026 Foodbank Hunger Report indicates that around 1.1 million households in these regions are experiencing food scarcity, with 639,000 enduring severe food insecurity, including going without meals for several days.

The shares of households with children facing food insecurity remained steady at 42 percent this year, unchanged from 2025. However, the proportion of middle-income households reporting difficulties affording food increased from 32 percent in 2022 to 36 percent in 2026. Foodbank NSW & ACT, the hunger relief charity behind the report, noted that these figures have emerged even as the organisation faces record lows in food donations.

Samantha Prescott, chief executive of Foodbank NSW & ACT, highlighted the fragile nature of food security amid rising financial pressures. She described the situation as “just an interest rate rise away,” pointing to ongoing increases in interest rates, rising rents, and volatile fuel prices. Prescott explained that these factors often lead families to reduce spending on food as a way to manage tight household budgets.

Foodbank NSW & ACT distributed over 18 million meals during the past year through partnerships with approximately 700 community organisations. Among the recipients of this support is Survivors R Us, a domestic violence victim support service that operates a food pantry in Cardiff, near Newcastle. The organisation’s founder, Maria Martin, who herself is a domestic violence survivor, reported a 300 percent rise in demand for assistance since 2019.

Martin described a growing trend of families with two incomes who are nonetheless struggling to meet basic needs. “They’re paying their mortgages and utilities, but they’re going without food,” she said. She emphasized that many individuals seeking help arrive after several days of food deprivation, underscoring the severity of current food insecurity.

While acknowledging Foodbank’s role in alleviating some of the burden, Martin stressed the need for increased government funding to expand food assistance. “We need more money to provide more food,” she said, noting that as a non-government organisation, Survivors R Us relies entirely on fundraising efforts to sustain its operations.

The findings point to a broader challenge faced by middle-income families amid economic uncertainty, highlighting the ongoing need for coordinated community and governmental responses to address food insecurity in the region.