Advocacy & Crisis Management
Advocacy and Crisis Management
Reaching out to those in crisis
JFS reaches out to community members who live at or are at high risk of poverty. By providing support, advocacy and resources, we enable diverse members of the community to live with dignity and respect.
Homelessness Prevention Services
We offer a variety of services and support if you are housing insecure. Please note JFS is not a housing provider. We cannot provide support for a market rent search.
Housing Resources
To qualify for JFS services, you must meet the criteria listed below:
- My household's annual income is less than $40,000
- I am homeless, inadequately housed, or at a high risk of losing housing
- I am a Lower Mainland resident
- provide information and referral to other community resources
- help you apply for subsidized housing
- work with you to avoid eviction and maintain housing
- provide you with a self-guided toolkit for your housing search
- connect you with a care manager if you need assistance with your housing search or advocate with the landlord
- connect you with a JFS Housing support group and workshops
- help you apply for rent subsidies and emergency financial aid
Click here to get started on your housing search using our Housing Toolkit.
Do you need some support to use the toolkit or have housing questions? JFS provides drop-in times at the Kitchen (54 East 3rd Ave, Vancouver) every Wednesday from 2pm-4pm. Drop-ins are for anyone wanting assistance with the housing toolkit, with filling out applications, subsidies, or support in creating strategies to manage their current housing situation.
- Find market housing
- Find housing for people before they arrive in Vancouver
The JHR is an online form where people can apply for affordable housing provided by Tikva Housing Society, Vancouver Jewish Building Society, Yaffa Housing Society, Haro Park Centre Society, and Maple Crest Apartments.
Do I qualify for affordable housing and what type of unit would I get?
Your qualification for affordable housing is determined by a number of criteria, such as your gross income, assets, family composition, and mobility restrictions if any.
How long will it take to get placed in a unit?
Unfortunately, there is a high demand for affordable housing and the number of applicants is much greater than that of the number of units available. The length of an Applicant’s wait time will vary depending on the type of housing need and vacancies. Your application will remain active in the Jewish Housing Registry until you are housed.
To apply, please send us a message here.
Crisis Management: Information, advocacy & referral
We provide a range of services to clients in need to address issues such as lack of income, disability, abuse, addiction etc. Our services are client focused with the goal of assisting people as they navigate through the system and providing support where needed.
Case management includes:
- Intake
- Assessment
- Action plan with short and long-term goals
- Supportive Counselling
- Referrals
- Education
- Access to government benefits
Case managers provide assistance and support to clients through one-to-one sessions and group activities.
Other Services
We offer short-term emergency JFS financial aid for those faced with sudden expenses that threaten their wellbeing. This financial aid funding is used for emergencies such as urgent medical or dental bills, rent in cases of eviction, or outstanding utility bills at risk of disconnection.
If you are a new client and are interested in completing the intake and low-income financial assessment, please contact our care line at (604) 558-5719.
Due to staffing shortages, we are no longer taking new intakes for care management and housing.
9am-5pm, 5 days a week
(604) 558-5719
[email protected]
Safe emergency housing for women fleeing abuse
Alternative Short Term Emergency Housing (ASTEH) is a community-based housing facility available to Jewish women and their children who are fleeing violence or are who are at risk of homelessness.
We have Russian-speaking services currently available for:
-
- Thriving Seniors
- Home Support Workers
RACIST INCIDENT HOTLINE
United Way BC and the Government of British Columbia are proud to announce the launch of
the Racist Incident Helpline – a culturally safe and trauma-informed resource for people who
have experienced or witnessed an act of racism. The helpline provides access to information
and safe supports from anywhere in BC, in over 240 languages.
Open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (PT), the Racist Incident Support Line is available by
calling 1-833-HLP-LINE (1-833-457-5463).
Calls are answered by United Way BC Helpline Services professionals who have completed
trauma response and cultural sensitivity training, who can:
• listen to the caller’s experience,
• provide information about local support services,
• direct the caller on next steps based on their comfort level, and
• with consent, refer the caller to the services that best match their needs.
Service is free and confidential. Callers who prefer a language other than English can let the
call-taker know their preferred language and an interpreter will be patched into the call.
Visit racistincidenthelpline.ca for more details.
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