Programs and Services

EmeRgency Financial Assistance

This program assists members of the community who are experiencing financial challenges.  This may include, for example, job loss, a disability that precludes continuing to work, separation from one’s partner which significantly affects an individual’s income, death of a partner which affects household income, or sudden illness.

The program will provide short-term emergency financial assistance for a maximum of 3 months, with an option to extend under special circumstances.  During this period of time, it is expected that the client will (with the assistance of a community support worker) engage other resources and supports to manage on a long-term basis. Eligibility for this program and any financial support will be determined by filling out our intake form, followed by an interview.

Community Events

Throughout the year, JFSVI provides courtesy tickets to its clients and others in need so that money is not a barrier to participating in Jewish cultural events. We are thankful to the Victoria Jewish Film Festival, Kolot Mayim Reform Congregation, Congregation Emmanuel, and the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria for providing movie tickets, Passover Community Seder tickets, music concert and theatre tickets for the enjoyment of everyone.

Yom Tov Food Support

Four times a year we either hand-deliver holiday gift packages or mail grocery cards to individuals and families who are isolated from the community due to illness, financial difficulties or personal crises. We send these holiday gifts so they can gain access to the specialty items needed to celebrate the Jewish holidays and to connect with members of the Victoria Jewish community. For instance, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we delivered Passover Seder meals to many of our JFSVI clients with the support of Chabad of Vancouver Island. We can also provide ongoing food subsidies for low-income individuals and families on Vancouver Island. We are very grateful for the continued support of Fernwood General Store, Cobs Bread, Fairway Markets and Thrifty’s Foods who are generous donors and supporters of JFSVI.

LIGHT OF SHABBAT PROGRAM

Jewish Family Services and Chabad of Vancouver Island have joined forces to bring the Light of Shabbat (LOS) program to clients of JFSVI on Friday nights.

The program, which was started in memory of Rabbi Gabi and Rebbetzin Rivky Holtzberg, delivers Shabbat kits with items and food for Shabbat to our list of clients so that they can observe the Sabbath from the comfort of their home.

CASE MANAGEMENT  

This is one of our priority programs. We employ part-time social workers to assist with our Holocaust survivors and do intake for those clients that have specific requests.

JFSVI provides ongoing support to individuals seeking assistance. A community support worker assists collaboratively with JFSVI clients to clearly establish their most immediate need(s) for support and to formulate a plan for moving forward. A community support worker also provides access to additional resources and follows up with clients so they can meet their goals.

Some of the issues JFSVI has worked on with clients include concerns about housing, medical care, home support care, burial arrangements, food insecurity, child care, family counselling, and social isolation.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR FUNDING

Holocaust survivors who meet specific criteria are eligible for services funded by the German government.  This funding is negotiated by the Claims Conference in New York who then provides the funding to the Cummings Centre in Montreal.  The Cummings Centre in turn funds the services for the clients of Jewish Family Services of Vancouver Island (JFSVI).  

Services for which they are eligible include home care and housekeeping. They are also eligible for emergency funds for services such as food gift cards,  medical equipment, dental care, prescription costs, and other necessities. JFSVI connects with these individuals on a regular basis to ensure their needs are being met.

For some of our survivors, English is not their first language. We have been able to work with families and our care provider organization to seek individuals who can provide care and services in their birth language.  This makes a significant difference to their comfort level with a care provider.

 The Cummings Program enables Holocaust survivors in our community to continue to live in their homes and contributes to an improved quality of life.  Jewish Family Services of Vancouver Island is honoured to administer this program and ensure they receive the services they deserve.

OUTREACH

Our volunteers make regular house calls and phone calls to seniors and others in the community to reduce social isolation.

Saanich Green market

Jewish Family Services is pleased to announce the opening of a wholesale produce market in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria (3636 Shelbourne St.) and in inclement weather indoors at the Cedarhill Scout Hall (behind the JCC) in Saanich, BC. The first market was on Sunday, June 12, 2022. They are held twice a month on Sundays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm throughout the year. (We are closed in January and February). All left over produce is donated to the Shelbourne Community Kitchen and to CTOTS for their preschool meal program.

Thanks to grants from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Vancouver, Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island and the Victoria Foundation we have created a wholesale produce market for our local communities. This market assists everyone with their household food budget, and is especially helpful for those with low to moderate incomes.

RESOURCES

We maintain a listing of a wide range of critical service agencies, including the following: food support, mental health counselling, law services, housing resources, funding agencies, and more. On our website, you will also find a list of community resources for a range of life issues.