Media Release
March 31, 2023
For Immediate Release
Vancouver, B.C. – Tikva Housing Society is extremely excited to announce the purchase of a four-story apartment building that will offer affordable housing close to synagogues, schools and other amenities in Vancouver’s Jewish community.
Situated in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood, the 20-unit building will be home to nearly 30 individuals. Tikva currently provides housing solutions to more than 300 people, including 120 children, in 128 rental units in Vancouver and Richmond. With this recent addition and 20 new units in Burnaby to be completed by summer 2023, we will expand our portfolio to 168 units in seven housing developments. However, the need for affordable housing is enormous. There are 302 applicants on the Jewish Housing Registry waiting for affordable homes, including 65 people with disabilities.
“This addition will be a huge step forward to providing more people with safe, secure and affordable homes,” said Anat Gogo, Executive Director at Tikva Housing Society. “The building was acquired through an extraordinary and unparalleled donation of $10 million by the Al Roadburg Foundation. It is the single largest donation received by Tikva and is critical to address housing insecurity,” said Gogo. With gratitude for the donation, Tikva has named the building the Al and Lola Roadburg Residences.
“Secure housing is essential for individuals and families to thrive,” said Robert Matas, Chair of the Al Roadburg Foundation. “We’re deeply honoured to be part of a broad network of Tikva Housing Society supporters who contribute to making housing within the Jewish community more accessible for individuals and families throughout Greater Vancouver.”
“This is a great achievement for Tikva,” explained Alice Sundberg, Director of Housing Development at Tikva. “By acquiring an existing apartment building, we are preserving a property that still has many years of life, rather than demolishing and building new. Also, we are protecting rental affordability for the future. Al and Lola Roadburg Residences will be a long-term community asset protected from the pressures of our escalating real estate market.”
About Tikva
Since 2007, Tikva’s mission has been to provide access to innovative and affordable housing solutions, primarily for Jewish individuals and families. We do this by acquiring and operating affordable rental housing developments and providing long-term subsidies to individuals and families with low incomes who are living in these developments. We also provide short-term rent subsidies to individuals and families living in market rental housing who are unable to afford their rent due to a temporary crisis.
Tikva is guided by values and commitment to Tikkun Olam – repairing the world – we can and will make a difference, one home at a time. Learn more at: tikvahousing.org.
About Al and Lola Roadburg
Lola Roadburg was born in Winnipeg in 1922. She was a dedicated homemaker with three children and an active participant in Vancouver’s Jewish community, especially baking for the legendary Hadassah -WIZO Bazaar. Lola died in 2011.
Al Roadburg was born in Vancouver in 1913. He was an astute businessman who built Richmond Steel Recycling into a multi-million dollar operation with the largest automobile shredder in the province. At its peak, the recycling company could shred 400 cars a day. In the 1950s, Al Roadburg began developing a portfolio of all-rental apartments, multi-purpose warehouses, commercial spaces, and office buildings. His company, Broadway Properties, bought and held onto the buildings, providing security for tenants and stability to neighbourhoods across Greater Vancouver. Al died in 2002.
Al and Lola Roadburg had a lifelong commitment to Israel and to Jewish organizations in Vancouver. The Al Roadburg Foundation aims to ensure their estates are used to create a legacy that benefits the community where they lived and raised their family. Roadburg family members continue to live in Vancouver.
Follow us
Get the latest news from Tikva Housing Society on Twitter (@tikvahousing), Facebook (Facebook.com/tikvahousing), and LinkedIn (Linkedin.com/company/tikva-housing-society).