Rent Relief Program

BACKGROUND

In 2011, Tikva Housing Society established the “Tikva Housing Rent Subsidy Program” to provide eligible low-income individuals and families with cash assistance towards their monthly rent within available funding. The program is highly valued in the Jewish community as it provides assistance to households living in market rental housing and unable to afford rent due to a temporary crisis.

Applicants are interviewed and asked to provide proof of income and a copy of their rental lease agreement. Applicants are selected through a point score system. There are fluctuations among recipients. People move, incomes change, and the program is able to adapt to these variations.

The maximum subsidy is $778/month for individuals and couples and $1,200/month for families.

Between September 2023 to August 2024, we helped 24 families, including 27 adults and seven children in Vancouver, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Richmond and Delta—increasing the monthly assistance to reflect inflation and rising rents.

As of September 2024, the program currently supports 13 adults and four children in Metro Vancouver.

Since its inception, the Rent Relief program’s lead donor has been the Dayhu Charitable Foundation. Their generous annual contribution is augmented by additional donors and foundations, including the Phyliss and Irving Snider Foundation, the RBC Foundation, the Betty Averbach Foundation, Miryam and Rafael Filosof, the Krell Family Endowment Fund and the Zacks Family Charitable Foundation.

The impact of funding from our generous donors can be seen through the gratitude of our recipients:

  • “I can’t thank you and Tikva enough for the help and hope you have provided me. Your reaching out with your subsidy program will make all the difference to me as I try to maintain a normal lifestyle and live in a safe and clean environment. Thank you again, and I hope to give back to you and Tikva in some form once I move back to the city in the near future.“

  • “I am so full of gratitude. This absolutely helps my daughter and me. Thank you so much!”

  • “Thank you, Roni, so very much…Tikva Housing has been very kind to me…I really appreciate the help…”

  • “That is such wonderful news, and I’m so relieved."

  • “Thank you so much for all your help and everything this far. I truly appreciate it!”

  • "Wow, I did not expect your email. Thank you for offering me opportunities. I am highly grateful."