We don’t have enough affordable housing in Vancouver and we need better laws to protect renters and rental units. Individual advocacy, whether by oneself or a legal advocate, is a time-consuming, though necessary process. But it’s important to remember that long-term social progress only occurs when enough people convince those who have power to change our legislation and financial priorities. The Jewish community cannot accomplish this in isolation. As part of our commitment to creating long-term affordable housing solutions, Jewish Family Service Agency:
• Is a founding and active member of Citywide Housing Coalition, a non-profit society dedicated to ending homelessness through permanent social housing construction programs, increases to welfare and minimum wage rates, legislative changes to protect renters and incentives to encourage more rental housing.
• Regularly speaks on housing and poverty issues before City Council
• Works with Tikva Housing Society to increase opportunities for affordable housing for Jewish individuals and families with low incomes.
• Sponsored the City Council appointment of the JFSA Housing Coordinator to the Vancouver City Planning Commission
• Speaks to senior government, business, labour and communities on housing issues
• Works with other coalitions and campaigns such as Metro Vancouver Alliance, the Living Wage Campaign, First Call BC, Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre, Pivot Legal Society’s Red Tent Campaign, Community Advocates for Little Mountain, Carnegie Community Action Project, Front Line Advocacy Workers Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative’s BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
