DESCRIPTION
Since 2011, Tikva Housing’s Rent Relief Program has helped low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Metro Vancouver remain housed during temporary financial crises. Designed as a preventative measure, the program provides short-term monthly subsidies to bridge gaps caused by unforseen income loss, health challenges, or family emergencies—before they escalate into housing instability or eviction. Support is calibrated using federal rental market data, with a goal of keeping housing costs at or below 30% of gross household income. Each applicant is carefully assessed through a review and interview process, ensuring assistance is delivered with discretion, fairness, and respect. The program has demonstrated measurable outcomes, including eviction prevention, improved tenant stability, and reduced financial stress. Grounded in dignity and community care, it offers a practical, replicable model for other housing providers, and has been shared with organizations across North America."
DETAILS
Affordability Framework
Support is calibrated using federal rental market data, with a goal of keeping housing costs at or below 30% of household income, up to a maximum. The maximum allocations have steadily increased with the cost of living, to $860 per month for an individual or couple and $1,359 for a family.
Target Completion Date
Populations Served
Indigenous
Total Project Cost
$212,695
Total Units
30
Affordable Units
30
Project Funding
Funding Required
A gift of $4,077 will support a family for three months during a crisis while $2,580 will support an individual or couple during this time.
Funds Raised
The amount of relief and subsidies that we provide annually coincides directly with the amount of funds that we are able to raise each year. Therefore, we continue to try to identify new sources of funding and secure multi-year commitments for the longer-term financial sustainability of this program. In 2025, funding for the program was $212,695.
Use of funds
Funds raised will be used to provide short-term rent relief to households living in market rental housing and unable to afford their rent due to a temporary crisis. A significant number of Rent Relief Program recipients have become tenants of Tikva Housing units.
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