Tikva Housing

Tikva secures 45 rental units

Anat Gogo of Tikva Housing unveils the sign for the Ronald S. Roadburg Residences, with Tikva board co-chairs Andrew Charney and Penny Gurstein, former minister of housing and municipal affairs Ravi Kahlon, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Richmond city councilors, and Bernard Pinsky of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation with staff and board members. (photo by Alina Ilyasova)

Tikva Housing has acquired a 45-unit apartment building in Richmond, now officially named the Ronald S. Roadburg Residences. The purchase marks the largest acquisition in Tikva’s history and secures 30 two-bedroom and 15 one-bedroom units as long-term affordable housing.

This acquisition was made possible through a transformational gift from the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation and capital funding from British Columbia’s Rental Protection Fund, which enables nonprofit organizations to purchase rental housing at risk of being lost to private redevelopment.

“We’re working on every front to address the housing crisis and rising costs, so people have an affordable home in the community they love,” said Ravi Kahlon, who was at the time BC minister of housing and municipal affairs. “When a building changes hands, residents worry whether they will be forced to move or pay much higher rent. By helping nonprofits to buy these buildings, we are protecting the people who have lived there for years, close to their families, their jobs and the activities they enjoy.”

Located at 8660 Westminster Hwy., rents at the property average approximately $1,500 to $1,600, or about 42% below community averages, and will remain below local market rates, providing stability and peace of mind for more than 110 residents.

“It’s a relief that Tikva has stepped in to secure the future of the Ronald S. Roadburg building. It’s helped me set aside a nagging fear of needing to relocate due to redevelopment or similar,” said tenant Timothy Schafli. “I’m happy to have called Richmond home for over a decade and that I’m confident I’ll be able to continue to do that. Thanks to Tikva for the excellent communication during the transition as well.”

The property in central Richmond offers residents access to amenities like transit and schools, along with opportunities for individuals and families to engage in religious, cultural and social networks.

“This momentous acquisition embodies the core of Tikva’s mission to provide access to innovative housing solutions – giving new hope to individuals and families in need, transforming lives and strengthening the community,” said Anat Gogo, executive director, Tikva Housing. “We are deeply grateful to the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and to the Rental Protection Fund for ensuring these 45 homes will remain protected and affordable for generations to come.”

The building is named in honour of the late businessman and philanthropist Ronald S. Roadburg.

“Providing secure and affordable homes strengthens the entire community, and we are honoured to help make this happen,” said Bernard Pinsky, chair of the foundation.

photo - Bernard Pinsky, chair of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, helps Chabad Richmond Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman hang the mezuzah at the entry of the Ronald S. Roadburg Residences — Bernard Pinsky, chair of the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, helps Chabad Richmond Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman hang the mezuzah at the entry of the Ronald S. Roadburg Residences. *(photo by Alina Ilyasova)*

The project also received support from the BC Rental Protection Fund. Marking its first acquisition in the City of Richmond, the fund contributed $5 million toward the purchase, helping keep housing affordable for tenants. This includes $1.2 million in renewal grants to help with building improvements to keep the homes safe and comfortable.

“Investing in protecting the affordable housing we already have means we spend less while achieving more – more capacity, more resilience, more opportunity,” said Katie Maslechko, chief executive officer of the Rental Protection Fund.

According to the Metro Vancouver Jewish Housing Registry, of its 450 applicants, 200 are specifically seeking affordable housing in Richmond.

“Today’s announcement of Tikva acquiring 45 units of rental housing at the Ronald S. Roadburg Residences is great news for Richmond residents, as these 45 units will provide much-needed rental tenure housing for seniors, families and members of the local workforce for years to come,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie.

Tikva’s rental portfolio includes a mix of rental rates, ranging from shelter to below market and adhering to relevant provincial and federal social housing standards.

“This acquisition represents a strategic investment in long-term affordability and community stability in a region where purpose-built rental housing is increasingly scarce,” said Wei Liu, Tikva’s housing development manager.

For more information, visit tikvahousing.org.

– Courtesy Tikva Housing Society

Tikva gets a new look

Tikva Housing Society’s executive director Anat Gogo stands in front of a poster bearing the agency’s new logo. (photo by Pat Johnson)

Tikva Housing Society has a fresh logo and new branding. The big reveal took place Sept. 25 in the organization’s new headquarters on West Broadway in Vancouver’s Fairview area.

Tikva provides affordable housing options for Jewish community members. In 2018, it operated 29 homes, helping 95 people. In 2024, it operates 168 homes, putting roofs over the heads of 375 people. The number of people benefiting from the agency’s rent relief program for market housing has quadrupled.

Like the original logo, the new one takes the shape of a home, explained Anat Gogo, Tikva’s executive director. The bottom part of the “i” in Tikva not only forms the door to the house, but, together with the letter’s crowning dot, implies a person. Accompanying the new logo is Tikva’s first-ever “positioning line” of “From hope to home.” Even the typeface is entirely unique.

The redesign is the brainchild of adman man and a team he assembled, which includes Brenda Wasserman, a brand manager who also happens to be his niece.

The rebranding began with a survey of core Tikva stakeholders, who were asked as part of a strategic planning process what comes to mind about the organization. Several participants said the existing logo depicted the organization as, Gogo said, “too shy, too meek, too quiet about the work that we do. If you look at the old logo, it looks frail.”

“They spoke to how we need to be more outspoken and how we need to be making more noise,” she said.

Tikva Housing Society was incorporated in 2007, but its roots go to 1994, when it was launched as a division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. At the outset, its main role was to provide financial subsidies to help individuals and families make rent. The goal is to keep rent to 30% of income.

Tikva’s first direct intervention into housing management was Dany Guincher House, an 11-unit apartment building that opened in 2008.

It would be a decade before Tikva acquired their next housing units, but then the pace quickened.

“We have seven sites and growing,” said Gogo.

Tikva doesn’t go for cookie-cutter approaches. Every housing project is unique. They have two standalone buildings, and their other five locations are designated apartments within larger complexes. Each is a result of partnerships with other social agencies, governments, foundations and, most recently, a development company.

“Tikva is very innovative,” she said. “We are always seeking solutions and finding creative ways to make these opportunities work. It’s a mix of preparedness meeting opportunity.”

Gogo credits the board of directors for being audacious – they aim to build 1,000 housing units within 10 years.

One example of innovative thinking was a design change during the development of the Ben and Esther Dayson Residences, a 32-unit townhouse development in South Vancouver’s River District. With a little rejigging of the blueprints, what were to be all three-bedroom units were made to accommodate four four-bedroom units, which are almost completely unknown in the market and non-market housing sectors.

Despite the increase in supply, Gogo said, there remains much unmet demand.

The Jewish Housing Registry, a joint project of Jewish Family Services and all the Jewish organizations that are involved in the housing sector, is a centralized list of people awaiting housing supports. Currently, the list has 500 people, including 95 families and about 140 seniors.

“We need more housing,” she said. “It’s not a secret.”

In a sign of the times, Tikva has been approached by potential residents who are looking for housing not because of financial considerations but because, according to Gogo, they have “a need for secure, community, Jewish-oriented housing because they may have experienced antisemitism in their current communities.”

Tikva, she said, does not only supply homes and subsidize residents in market housing.

“We do a lot of community building with our tenants,” she said.

Like the housing market itself, Tikva’s challenges and successes are based on supply and demand. In one of the world’s most expensive housing markets, there is plenty of demand for affordable housing and rental subsidies. But where does the supply come from?

Gogo credits the Jewish community for recognizing the urgent need and stepping up.

For about Tikvah Housing Society, visit tikvahousing.org.

Tikva campaign to start

The most vulnerable members of the Jewish community are struggling. The lack of affordable housing and a persistent high inflation rate are causing individuals and families to exhaust their income, which can lead to homelessness. The reality poses a major crisis that affects more than 350 people in the Jewish community who need a safe, secure and affordable home.

photo - Anat Gogo, executive director at Tikva Housing — Anat Gogo, executive director at Tikva Housing. *(photo from Tikva Housing)*

The Jewish community witnessed Tikva Housing’s significant growth in 2023, as the organization’s portfolio grew from 98 to 168 units. Also, in keeping with its mission, it increased the monthly maximum rent subsidies available for families, couples and individuals in an effort to reduce the effects of market rental increases. But such hopeful news is overshadowed by growing demand. Vancouver’s vacancy rate is below 0.9%, and, as an example, two-bedroom rents grew by 8.6% on average. Substantial increases in rents of units at turnover drove this growth, and the outlook is not encouraging. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported: “Affordability worsened for low-income households: vacancy rates for the most affordable units were lower than average, and these households already spend a greater share of their income on rent.”

“In the last three years, we saw an increase of 458% in people registered with the Jewish Housing Registry,” said Anat Gogo, executive director at Tikva Housing.

The Jewish Housing Registry (JHR) was launched in 2020 to provide affordable-housing seekers with a convenient point of application. It also serves housing providers with demographic information, therefore, a studied approach to future housing developments and partnerships.

“Today, we know that, among those over 350 individuals and families waitlisted, 84 are families with children, 72 are applicants with disabilities, and 129 are seniors over 65 years old,” said Gogo.

Housing is a human right, and we all have a role in ensuring that more people have the dignity and safety of an affordable home. From Feb. 26 to March 11, support Tikva Housing’s annual fundraising campaign. Visit tikvahousing.org.

– Courtesy Tikva Housing

20 new affordable rentals

Susana Cogan Place (photo from Tikva Housing)

Individuals and families with low to moderate income are moving into 20 new homes in Burnaby. Susana Cogan Place is Tikva Housing Society’s most recent affordable housing project, developed in partnership with Polygon Homes and made possible with financial support from BC Housing.

“Susana Cogan Place provides stability and security through affordable housing for people to live, work and retire in the community they know, here in Burnaby,” said Ravi Kahlon, BC minister of housing. “Our government is building housing at a historic rate and these 20 new homes are another example of how we can work together to build a province where everyone has a good place to call home and no one gets left behind.”

Located at 6438 Byrnepark Dr., Susana Cogan Place is a 20-unit development comprising studio, one- and two-bedroom homes. It is part of a larger five-storey, 122-unit condominium known as Byrnepark by Polygon.

“I am delighted to see Susana Cogan Place and its new affordable rental homes open in our community,” said Raj Chouhan, MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds. “These new cost-effective homes will provide a sense of well-being and a place for many families and seniors to call their own.”

Tikva’s units on the third floor are named in memory of Susana Cogan z”l, whose leadership was the driving force of Tikva from 2006 to 2017.

“These homes are a welcome addition to the Burnaby community,” said Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake. “We know more housing like this is needed to help people live affordably, which is why our government will continue to work with all partners to boost the supply of affordable housing in Burnaby … and throughout the province.”

photo - From Left to right: Richard Lee, Maita Santiago, Raj Chouhan, Mike Hurley, Rhonda Sacks, Anne Kang and Anat Gogo — From Left to right: Richard Lee, Maita Santiago, Raj Chouhan, Mike Hurley, Rhonda Sacks, Anne Kang and Anat Gogo. *(photo from Tikva Housing)*

Tikva Housing, an experienced nonprofit housing provider, owns and operates the homes. With this opening, Tikva’s portfolio has increased to 168 units in seven housing developments and expanded into Burnaby.

“In these times of high real estate values and high interest rates, Tikva is grateful to be able to partner with Polygon Homes and BC Housing to produce affordable housing for families with low and moderate incomes. We need many more partnerships like this,” said Alice Sundberg, director of housing development at Tikva Housing.

Monthly rents for the 20 homes range between $375 for a studio unit to $1,700 for a two-bedroom unit.

“This new development marks the first housing collaboration between our organization and BC Housing,” said Anat Gogo, executive director Tikva Housing. “The support of the Province and the financial assistance from BC Housing, along with our partnership with Polygon, allowed Tikva Housing to acquire 20 new affordable homes in south Burnaby. We are pleased to be able to ease the burden on individuals and families struggling with housing insecurity.”

Each home at Susana Cogan Place is equipped with a range, fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer. Residents also have access to amenities, including a playground, lobby, lounge and a fitness studio.

“The investments we’ve made as a city into affordable housing are beginning to pay off in Burnaby and it’s encouraging to see tenants moving into their affordable units at Susana Cogan Place,” said Mike Hurley, mayor of Burnaby. “These units are priced well below the market rate, something that is only possible thanks to the close collaboration between BC Housing, the Province and the City of Burnaby.”

The Province, through BC Housing, provided approximately $3 million to the project via the Building BC: Community Housing Fund and will provide an annual operating subsidy of approximately $74,000.

– Courtesy Tikva Housing Society

Tikva gets new building

Al and Lola Roadburg (photo from Tikva Housing)

With the help of a $10 million donation from the Al Roadburg Foundation, a four-storey apartment building has been purchased that will allow Tikva Housing Society to offer more affordable housing in Vancouver’s Jewish community.

Situated on West 41st Avenue in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood, the 20-unit building will be home to nearly 30 individuals. Tikva currently provides housing solutions to more than 300 people, in 128 rental units in Vancouver and Richmond. With this recent addition and 20 new units in Burnaby to be completed by summer 2023, Tikva will expand its portfolio to 168 units in seven housing developments. However, the need for affordable housing is enormous – there are 302 applicants on the Jewish Housing Registry waiting for affordable homes, including 65 people with disabilities.

“This addition will be a huge step forward to providing more people with safe, secure and affordable homes,” said Anat Gogo, executive director at Tikva Housing Society. “The building was acquired through an extraordinary and unparalleled donation of $10 million by the Al Roadburg Foundation. It is the single largest donation received by Tikva and is critical to address housing insecurity.”

In gratitude for the donation, Tikva has named the building the Al and Lola Roadburg Residences.

“Secure housing is essential for individuals and families to thrive,” said Robert Matas, chair of the Al Roadburg Foundation. “We’re deeply honoured to be part of a broad network of Tikva Housing Society supporters who contribute to making housing within the Jewish community more accessible for individuals and families throughout Greater Vancouver.”

“By acquiring an existing apartment building, we are preserving a property that still has many years of life, rather than demolishing and building new,” added Alice Sundberg, director of housing development at Tikva. “Also, we are protecting rental affordability for the future. Al and Lola Roadburg Residences will be a long-term community asset protected from the pressures of our escalating real estate market.”

Al Roadburg (1913-2002) and Lola Roadburg (1922-2011) had a lifelong commitment to Israel and to Jewish organizations in Vancouver. The Al Roadburg Foundation aims to ensure their estates are used to create a legacy that benefits the community where they lived and raised their family.

– Courtesy Tikva Housing

Give to increase housing

The Metro Vancouver Jewish community continues to struggle with housing insecurity. There is an urgent need for affordable, safe and stable homes, with more than 300 applicants on the Jewish Housing Registry’s growing waitlist. Of those, 71 are families with children and 65 are persons with disabilities.

Tikva Housing Society currently serves more than 300 people, with 100% occupancy in its 128 subsidized rental units, and by providing rent subsidies for those living in market rentals facing a temporary crisis.

photo - Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing Society — Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing Society. (photo from Tikva Housing Society)

“The only way that Tikva can address our community’s housing needs is through your generosity. Donations are crucial to help in achieving our mission to provide innovative and affordable housing solutions,” said Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing Society.

That is why, this month, the society is calling upon the collective power of the community’s compassion and generosity, as it launches Tikva’s annual fundraising campaign. Here is how you can help:

1) Plan. Mark your calendars for March 17 to March 27.

2) Give. Starting March 17, go to tikvahousing.org/donate and make your gift.

3) Inspire. Encourage your family and friends to join you in making a difference.

4) Share. Spread the word by sharing Tikva’s campaign posts on your social media and tag @TikvaHousing to expand its reach on Twitter and Facebook.

When you donate, you help provide a safe and secure home for Jewish community members, enabling them to put food on their table, buy medication and send their kids to camps. Dignity comes with the stability of shelter, as does the strength to fight for a better future.

– Courtesy Tikva Housing Society

New housing partnership

Yaron Komari, a resident at Dogwood Gardens, speaks at the development’s opening ceremony Jan. 10, as Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim looks on. (photo by Al Lau)

Yaron Komari grew up in Israel, served in the Israel Defence Forces and moved to Canada in 2009. He was pursuing a career as an apprentice electrician and was hopeful for the future when he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2018. A year later, the diabetes progressed into serious neuropathy and his career was effectively halted.

“I had no financial safety net and soon found myself in tough times,” he said. “I quickly found myself living in a rooming house with drug addicts and prostitutes as my neighbours. I felt very unsafe. Just walking up the 12 stairs to my room became a daily challenge, never mind the chronic insomnia.”

Komari shared his story at the official opening Jan. 10 of Dogwood Gardens, an affordable housing development on West 59th Avenue near Cambie. The 138-unit building, part of the larger Cambie Gardens development, is a partnership between Tikva Housing Society, SUCCESS and the City of Vancouver.

“Even my doctor became concerned,” Komari recounted at the ceremony. “Without access to a kosher kitchen, my diabetes became unmanageable and further affected my overall health. I’m an observant, kosher Jew and my living situation simply added more stress to my everyday life.

“I never in my worst nightmares thought that I would live in an unbearable and unhealthy environment and rely on community generosity to help source kosher food and meals,” he said.

Komari knew of Tikva Housing, which has the mission of providing “access to innovative and affordable housing solutions for all those in the Jewish community who need it.” However, he thought that there were people in greater need.

“With the persuasion and the help of Tikva Housing and Jewish Family Services, I applied for housing,” he said. “You cannot even begin to imagine what I felt when I got the call from Tikva Housing that my application had been approved. There was no hope for me.… [But] the keys are now in my hand. I walked into my new home. I couldn’t even believe that was happening to me. It was emotionally overwhelming…. I have a fridge that I can store my food in. I have a kosher kitchen where I can prepare my own meals and I have the peace of mind that I am safe and secure. For the first time in years, I have slept through the night. Tikva Housing has changed my life. I’m proud of where I live…. My world feels more open and I no longer feel shame or embarrassed of where and how I live.”

Komari’s is just one of the lives positively affected by the opening of the new facility, which was made possible under the city’s inclusionary housing policy, which requires developers to provide social housing as part of large redevelopment projects. SUCCESS and Tikva will co-manage the facility, which also includes an amenity space, children’s play area, parking and storage. Of the 138 units, 30 are designated for Tikva and 108 for SUCCESS. There are studio apartments and one-, two- and three-bedroom units. About half the units are offered to tenants at 10% below market rents, while the rest are adjusted to income, based on provincial guidelines. The larger Cambie Gardens development, of which Dogwood Gardens is a part, will see a total of 540 affordable units when the project of more than 3,000 total apartments is completed on the 10-hectare (25-acre) site. The redevelopment is on the location of Vancouver Coastal Health’s former Pearson Dogwood complex, which housed adults with physical disabilities and seniors with complex needs.

Anat Gogo, Tikva’s executive director, told the Independent that about 90% of the homes designated for members of the Jewish community are now occupied, with the rest of the residents expected to move in within days. Earlier, she told the audience, which included elected officials and community leaders, that stable, affordable housing is a basic need that allows people to move from merely surviving to thriving.

“This project makes me feel like we can have a meaningful and long-lasting impact and actually make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “At Tikva, we are committed to tikkun olam, repairing the world, and we do this one home at a time. We are committed to building community.”

Rhonda Sacks, chair of the board of directors of Tikva, also spoke, highlighting the power of partnerships.

“While Tikva and SUCCESS serve diverse populations, we share a common passion for supporting our communities and making a genuine difference in their lives,” she said. Sacks also offered special thanks to lead supporters, including the Diamond Foundation, the Ben and Esther Dayson Charitable Foundation, the Al Roadburg Foundation and the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation.

“Dogwood Gardens is perfectly positioned to inspire meaningful connections and provide a strong sense of belonging,” said Sacks.

photo - Supporters of Tikva Housing in one of the units at Dogwood Gardens on Jan. 10, left to right: Stephen Gaerber, Gord Kushner, Bernard Pinsky, Rory Richards, Anat Gogo, Ezra Shanken, Rhonda Sacks, Sheila Sontz and Daniella Givon — Supporters of Tikva Housing in one of the units at Dogwood Gardens on Jan. 10, left to right: Stephen Gaerber, Gord Kushner, Bernard Pinsky, Rory Richards, Anat Gogo, Ezra Shanken, Rhonda Sacks, Sheila Sontz and Daniella Givon. *(photo by Al Lau)*

Dogwood Gardens is not the first partnership between Tikva and SUCCESS. With other partners, the two agencies opened the 129-unit Diamond Residences (Storeys), in Richmond, six years ago. Last year, YWCA Metro Vancouver, the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of B.C. and Tikva opened xʷƛ̓əpicən, a 125-unit complex at Arbutus Centre. Tikva’s portfolio also includes the 32-unit Ben and Esther Dayson Residences, in south Vancouver’s River District, and Dany Guincher House, an 11-unit building for people at risk of homelessness and persons with disabilities who can live independently, which was Tikva’s first building. The house was built in 1970, purchased by Tikva in 2007 and began operations in 2008. With Dogwood Gardens now open, Tikva’s portfolio includes 128 units.

Currently under construction in Burnaby is the next Tikva initiative, Susana Cogan Place, which is named after the woman who led Tikva until her passing in 2017. This project will add another 20 units of affordable homes.

In addition, Tikva Housing has a rent subsidy program that provides eligible low-income singles and families with cash assistance towards their monthly rent, within available funding.

At the Dogwood Gardens opening, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim was joined by city councilors Sarah Kirby-Yung, Rebecca Bligh and Christine Boyle.

Sim noted that he grew up about a half-kilometre away in what was “effectively affordable housing” and said this new housing complex means that “the next generation of Vancouverites who may not have a lot … can still live in an amazing area like this one.”

The project is part of sprawling changes along the Cambie corridor, including the Oakridge redevelopment and smaller projects that increase density along the thoroughfare. JWest, the redevelopment of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver campus a few blocks to the northwest, is a major component of the changing face of the broader area, which has traditionally been home to many of Vancouver’s Jewish residents and community institutions.

“The City of Vancouver is committed to delivering much-needed quality housing while developing collaborative relationships with community partners,” said Sim. “We applaud the work of SUCCESS and Tikva, who have helped expand options for culturally appropriate housing across our city.”

Queenie Choo, chief executive officer of SUCCESS, chaired the opening ceremony and acknowledged other representatives of her organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has grown from a small charity in Chinatown to one of Canada’s largest social service agencies.

Anat Gogo now heads Tikva

Anat Gogo, new executive director of Tikva Housing Society. (photo from Tikva Housing)

Anat Gogo is the new executive director of Tikva Housing Society. Gogo took over leadership of the affordable housing society on Sept. 1, after several years in other senior roles with the organization.

In making the announcement, Rhonda Sacks, board chair of the society, praised Gogo.

“As we welcome Rosh Hashanah and this exciting next chapter on an unprecedented growth trajectory, we are very pleased to welcome Anat as our new executive director and have full confidence in her ability to lead Tikva Housing,” said Sacks.

“The affordable housing issues in our communities across British Columbia continue to grow,” said Gogo. “I am honoured to take on the role of executive director and to continue the mission and vision of Tikva Housing.”

Originally from Israel, Gogo moved to Canada in 1991. She has worked with Tikva since 2016, initially as a housing administrator. In April 2020, she became manager of programs and donor relations.

“I feel very excited and very blessed to take over the management of the organization,” Gogo told the Independent. “I feel like I will be able to act on the mission and vision of Tikva and the values that it was formed on, which are dignity, community, innovation and tikkun olam [repair of the world].”

Tikva originated in 1994 as the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Non-Profit Housing Society, a response to the housing needs identified in the Jewish community. The name was changed to Tikva Housing Society in 2007.

image - An artist’s rendering of Susana Cogan Place, which is one of Tikva Housing Society’s many partner projects — An artist’s rendering of Susana Cogan Place, which is one of Tikva Housing Society’s many partner projects. *(photo from tikvahousing.org)*

Tikva’s mission is to provide access to innovative and affordable housing solutions, primarily for Jewish individuals and families. The agency addresses housing issues through a range of initiatives, including short-term rent subsidies to households living in market housing who are unable to afford their rent due to a temporary crisis.

More visibly, the society acquires and operates affordable rental housing developments, which are home to individuals and families with low incomes. Tenants pay about 30% of their income in rent.

To realize their mission Tikva focuses on partnerships. Tikva currently operates a constellation of housing facilities that have been created through alliances with other government, community and private groups.

Dany Guincher House, in South Vancouver, has 11 units and is funded through capital donations from the Guincher family and a B.C. Housing grant.

Diamond Residences, also known as Storeys, in Richmond, is a 129-unit joint venture with four other housing societies and with capital funding from the Diamond Foundation, the City of Richmond and the federal and provincial governments, as well as other private funders. In it, Tikva owns and operates 18 units.

The 32-unit Ben and Esther Dayson Residences, in Vancouver’s River District, was completed in August 2020 in partnership with the Community Land Trust Foundation and the City of Vancouver. It was made possible with a major capital donation from the Ben and Esther Dayson Charitable Foundation. Sixty-seven children currently live in this development, a specific need Tikva identified.

“We are living in one of the most unaffordable places in the world,” said Gogo. “While all levels of government are focusing on increasing the inventory of affordable homes, the majority of this new inventory are studio, one- and two-bedroom units. This leaves a real void for families in need.”

Tikva operates 37 units in the 125-unit x^wƛ̓əpicən / Arbutus Centre. The centre is a partnership led by the YWCA, which leased the air space from the City of Vancouver and subleased it to Tikva and the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia. Rents are subsidized through private donations, including a substantial initial donation from the Diamond Foundation.

In total, Tikva operates 98 housing units, all of which are always occupied, said Gogo, and there is a long and growing waitlist.

Currently under development is Dogwood Gardens, which is being created in partnership with SUCCESS Affordable Housing Society and a leased air space parcel from the City of Vancouver, as well as Susana Cogan Place, in Burnaby, which is in partnership with Polygon Homes and with the financial support of B.C. Housing. The completion of these two projects will bring Tikva’s total number of units to 148.

Tikva was led by Susana Cogan until she passed away in 2017. Since 2018, Tikva has been led by Alice Sundberg, director of operations and housing development.

Community milestones … Roadburg Foundation supports Tikva Housing, Community Garden & more

Tikva Housing Society is thrilled to share that the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation has provided a grant of $255,000 to support Tikva’s mission to offer affordable housing solutions to the Jewish community.

“A gift of this magnitude provides help and hope at a time when economic uncertainty is definitely impacting housing insecurity,” said Anat Gogo, executive director of Tikva Housing Society. “The Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation’s tremendous generosity means that we will have the financial resources to build capacity on an operational level. Tikva is on an unprecedented growth trajectory and this gift is critical to support our growing housing portfolio, allowing us to say ‘yes’ to a number of new opportunities on the horizon.”

The need for affordable housing continues to be first and foremost on the minds of many in the Jewish community. This gift will be put to work, empowering individuals and families by providing affordable housing – allowing them to build long-term change in their lives and beyond.

Tikva Housing Society is grateful to the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation for its partnership in addressing the issue of housing insecurity. Tikva appreciates the foundation’s focus on strengthening the capacity of the community’s organizations and its commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the world.

* * *

Vancouver Talmud Torah, Congregation Beth Israel and Jewish Family Services are elated to share with the community that a gift of $100,000 has been received from the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation to support the Vancouver Jewish Community Garden. This gift enables the building of the garden to begin in earnest and it is anticipated that construction will begin this fall. Thanks to the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Transformation Grant and the Diamond Foundation, the garden will be located and built above the shared BI and VTT parkade.

The garden aspires to positively impact many members of the local Jewish community and to be a hub for celebrating and honouring nature, imparting Jewish teachings and values, promoting collaboration, and enhancing the community’s well-being. Studies show that spending time outdoors in nature has been directly linked with lessened anxiety and depression for adults and children alike and helps people better manage stress.

“It is exciting and encouraging to see several important communal institutions come together collaboratively to advance such a positive new opportunity. The Vancouver Jewish Community Garden will be an opportunity to teach community members of all ages about agriculture and the importance of a healthy earth, to enable volunteers to contribute to our community and to help feed those in need. The Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation is pleased to help advance the project towards completion,” noted Bernard Pinsky, Roadburg board chair.

* * *

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver is delighted to welcome two new members of its team: Gayle Morris and Alisa Farina.

Morris is the new director of the Federation annual campaign, the community’s central fundraising initiative. Building relationships is central to this role, and Morris brings an incredible depth of experience in that area, and so much more. She is an accomplished and multifaceted sales, marketing and business development leader who has extensive experience in both innovative startups and not-for-profit organizations. She is also an active member of the community with extensive volunteer involvement.

Farina has been hired as the child, youth and young adult mental health worker, and Federation is grateful to the Mel and Gerri Davis Charitable Trust for the support to enable the creation of the new position.

Farina holds a bachelor’s in child and youth care and comes to the job from a 25-year career with the Burnaby School District, the last 10 of which she focused on working with high-risk, vulnerable youth and their families. Farina is currently completing her master’s degree in clinical counseling. She grew up in the Lower Mainland and was involved with BBYO and Camp Miriam.

Tikva builds in accessibility

Dogwood Gardens, which is due to open later this year, features an open garden space with shading that is set off from the street. (photo by Lior Noyman Productions)

In October last year, Tikva Housing Society, in conjunction with YMCA Metro Vancouver and the Association of Neighbourhood Houses, opened Kerrisdale’s newest affordable housing project at Arbutus Centre. Named x^wƛ̓əpicən (pronounced “hook la’pitzen,” Musqueam for “the Hollow”), the 125-unit project is designed to meet a vital need in one of Vancouver’s most exclusive and high-priced residential areas: affordable housing that is also universally accessible to anyone with a disability.

“[The new project] includes nine adaptable units that are designed for people with mobility challenges who do not need a wheelchair or walker,” explained Anat Gogo, who serves as Tikva’s manager of programs and donor relations. The nonprofit finds creative ways to increase affordable housing, primarily for Jewish low- to moderate-income families and individuals.

Adaptable units mean that individuals who have accessibility needs are able to have the unit modified to meet their individual requirements, whether it’s grab bars in the hallway, structural adaptations that make it easier to cook or special lighting for low-vision needs. Many apartment buildings don’t allow tenants to make structural modifications, even to accommodate disabilities. By offering a limited number of adaptable units, fully accessible apartments can be reserved for individuals who require a wheelchair-adapted unit. Tikva manages five such rentals at the Arbutus property.

photo - The Arbutus Centre project has units in which the kitchen counters and appliances are lowered to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers — The Arbutus Centre project has units in which the kitchen counters and appliances are lowered to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. *(photo from Tikva Housing)*

Projects like the one at Arbutus Centre are reflective of Tikva’s vision of affordable housing. “We are committed to fostering inclusive housing that serves all populations within the community,” said Gogo. It’s a mission that continues to adapt to the increasing demand for affordable housing in Greater Vancouver’s Jewish communities.

One of the drivers for finding new ways to increase accessible housing is Vancouver’s aging population, noted Gogo. “It’s important to recognize that our aging baby boomers will benefit from enhanced accessibility for those with mobility challenges.”

But it also benefits families and individuals of all ages who face barriers in their day-to-day living, she added. According to Statistics Canada (2017), more than six million Canadians live with one or more types of disability. Invisible disabilities are among the most frequent conditions noted, with housing options constricted by accessibility barriers, discrimination and employment limitations.

photo - An accessible bathroom features a roll-in shower and open design to accommodate walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility considerations — An accessible bathroom features a roll-in shower and open design to accommodate walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility considerations. *(photo from Tikva Housing)*

As a result, the B.C. Building Code now requires new and renovated buildings to be accessible to anyone with a disability, which includes “a person who has a loss, or a reduction, of functional ability and activity and includes a person in a wheelchair [or] a person with a sensory disability.” Adaptable housing that can be modified economically and at a later date is British Columbia’s newest technology to meeting that growing and variable demand.

According to Gogo, Tikva is exploring ways to ensure that accessible housing addresses all needs, including those associated with invisible disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, vision disorders, and autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. She said Tikva actively seeks partnerships with other organizations that can support that expanding effort. “We have a great partner in the Jewish Family Services that is open to this initiative,” she noted.

The society also regularly networks with builders to explore new ways of meeting that goal. She said improved designs include features like “well-ventilated spaces, soundproof walls, signage that makes all tenants and visitors to the building know that this is an inclusive building.” Tikva also holds workshops and training for staff to help them engage with residents and stakeholders in the community.

The demand for accessible housing has also created new funding incentives that in turn will increase the amount of inclusive housing on the market. “Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is responsible for delivering [Canada’s] National Housing Strategy,” Gogo explained. The program offers reduced financing rates for nonprofits and developers whose housing developments comprise at least 20% of fully accessible units or universal design throughout the project.

“We take advantage of opportunities to advocate to all levels of government for special features to be included in design requirements that would improve quality of life for residents, including push-button door openers for accessible suites and amenity rooms, grab bars in all bathrooms, and wheelchair access to all outdoor amenity spaces,” said Gogo.

And Tikva is exploring ways to address other types of invisible disabilities, such as those triggered by environmental conditions. Gogo said the housing society is in the process of retrofitting one of its older buildings and is actively participating in the design stages. “We’re still in the very early stages of this planning,” she said, “but all considerations are on the table to create a living environment that would benefit our tenants no matter what their medical condition may be.… More research and public education would help build the case for those with invisible disabilities. Inclusive communities are those that recognize the diversity of our population, and that everyone deserves to have access to services, recreation and civic engagement.”

At the present time, three of the six properties Tikva operates have accessible housing. Dogwood Gardens, on 59th Avenue in the Marpole community, is due to open later this year, managed in joint cooperation with SUCCESS. For more information about available rentals, go to tikvahousing.org.

Jan Lee is an award-winning editorial writer whose articles and op-eds have been published in B’nai B’rith Magazine, Voices of Conservative and Masorti Judaism and Baltimore Jewish Times, as well as a number of business, environmental and travel publications. Her blog can be found at multiculturaljew.polestarpassages.com.