On her own, she continued to work while raising her daughter and caring for her mother. Then, in retirement, worsening economic conditions following the collapse of the Soviet Union forced her to consider a new life elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation in Ukraine was very difficult,\u201d she said. \u201cThe pension was small; it wasn\u2019t enough to live on. At that time, all the shelves were empty.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 1995, Gruzinov immigrated to Israel, settling in Ashkelon, about 20 kilometres from Gaza. Although she eventually moved into a retirement residence, instability remained part of daily life. From her window, she could see explosions in the distance during periods of conflict.<\/p>\n
When her daughter settled in Vancouver, Gruzinov followed, arriving in Canada in 2016. But the high cost of living in Metro Vancouver meant the family\u2019s housing struggles continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Mom came to Canada, I gave her my bedroom. The second bedroom was for my son, and I was sleeping in the living room,\u201d Galyide said. \u201cThis was very tight for us, but rent was so expensive that I could not afford something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gruzinov continued to hope for a place of her own and, the following year, that dream became reality when she secured an apartment with Tikva Housing, which provides affordable housing solutions for Jewish individuals and families across Metro Vancouver. Today, Gruzinov lives independently in one of Tikva\u2019s buildings, with her daughter close by and a renewed connection to the Jewish community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very nice to have my own space but also having my daughter living in the same building,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Gruzinov is one of several Holocaust survivors supported by Tikva, where assistance from the Azrieli Foundation helps ensure they can age with dignity, financial security and connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many Holocaust survivors, housing stability is not something that can be taken for granted. Affordable housing allows them to remain connected to their communities and access the support they need,\u201d said Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing, which owns 213 affordable units in eight buildings across Metro Vancouver and operates a rent relief program that provides short-term subsidies to people experiencing temporary financial crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany survivors have experienced profound loss and displacement. While we cannot change what they endured, we can help ensure they have comfort, housing security and community in their later years,\u201d said Gogo.<\/p>\n In 2025, Tikva first received funding from the Azrieli Foundation to support Holocaust survivors living in its housing units, helping the organization maintain significant rental subsidies in one of North America\u2019s least affordable markets.<\/p>\n The initiative is part of the Azrieli Foundation\u2019s broader commitment to supporting low-income Holocaust survivors across Canada. In addition to Vancouver, the foundation supports housing programs in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, working with local agencies that already serve survivors in their communities.<\/p>\n For Naomi Azrieli, chair of the Azrieli Foundation, those partnerships are essential.<\/p>\n \u201cWe always want to work with the trusted local agencies that are already there doing the work,\u201d Azrieli said. \u201cThey know how best to respond to the specific needs of the populations they serve and they really help us maximize the impact of our funding.\u201d<\/p>\n Azrieli has a deep understanding of the experiences of Holocaust survivors. Her own father, David Azrieli, has a story with remarkable similarities to that of Gruzinov and her family. Born in Poland, he fled to the USSR and eventually to Central Asia in 1941, shortly after the Nazi invasion \u2013 and he lived in Israel before building a successful international enterprise in Canada and Israel.<\/p>\n![\"photo](\"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/jun-26-affordable-housing.26.Naomi-Azrieli_courtesy-AF.png\")
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