Uplifting Lives jfsvancouver.ca | Winter 2024
A Permanent Home for JFS JFS is one of the only Jewish family service agencies in North America that has never had a permanent home, with two relocations in the last decade alone. Now, thanks to a small number of donors, JFS has acquired a commercial building at 2929 Commercial Drive. Once renovated, the 20,000-square-foot building will house all of JFS’ social service offerings. The new location, just three blocks from the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station, provides ready access to public transit.
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Securing long-term rental space in Vancouver’s current real estate market has become impossible and JFS was in a crisis. Expanding our Jewish community infrastructure with this permanent solution will offer our people a home where holistic support is readily available and constantly adapting to their needs. - Jody Dales, JFS Board Chair
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Over the last five years, JFS has seen a 50% increase in the number of community members who need help and a significant increase in their scope of needs. The demand for services is anticipated to further increase in the coming years. The acquisition of the new building is a strategic move to address both the agency growth and rental crisis, providing the essential space to establish the infrastructure necessary for the current offerings and integration of programs and services. Food security programs in particular will benefit from the upgraded space, explains Carol Hopkins, JFS Interim Director of Food Security. “The building will provide us with the necessary space to grow our food security programs in order to meet our community’s needs. We’ll have more refrigeration and freezer space to be able to accept and distribute larger food donations through our grocery and meals programs.”
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