February 12, 2010

Coast/Yaffa House in Dunbar

The sod is finally turned in a new supportive housing partnership.
SUSAN J. KATZ

“In 1993, a few families, mostly those having children with mental illness, gathered together for endless discussions in our homes. Our purpose was creating housing facilities having a Jewish cultural atmosphere that would offer opportunities for those with mental disabilities to participate within the Jewish community,” said Aaron Estrin, founder and past president of Vancouver Yaffa Housing Society (VYHS). Estrin was speaking on Jan. 21 to an assembly of guests and project supporters at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Dunbar Apartments in Vancouver.

The building is a collaborative partnership of Coast Mental Health, VYHS, St. Georges Place Society, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, the City of Vancouver and the provincial government.

In his speech to the large gathering, which included speakers Rich Coleman, minister of housing, and Deputy Mayor Kerry Jang, Estrin said, “Today, with our participation in this Dunbar development, Yaffa will triple the number of places we can offer our applicants, to a total of 15 units.”

According to Estrin, “As the Vancouver Jewish community has approximately 25,000 people, we estimate that close to 1,000 people in our community are currently suffering some serious form of mental illness. Dunbar Apartments will provide the first home with enhanced supervision to ... Jewish people in need of 24/7 supportive housing.”

Estrin also acknowledged the growing support from the neighborhood for the Dunbar Apartments project: “From the get-go, homeowners and residents in the area have stepped forward, contributing their ideas and lending their support – we do not take this for granted. I believe it’s fair to say that this community is an example to all Vancouver communities, and we are grateful and proud to be so welcomed into their fold.”

Bob Huber, president of VYHS, said, “We are pleased to provide our services and Jewish traditions so more members of our Jewish community can benefit from the expansion of our services. When complete, this development will quickly become an integral part of this community.”

According to Darrell Burnham, executive director of Coast Mental Health, the partnership between Coast and VYHS began 16-17 years ago, when the idea of a Jewish home for those with mental health needs was brought to their attention. In December 2007, there was a call by B.C. Housing to submit a proposal for supportive housing. St. Georges Place Society was chosen as another partner to fill the four wheelchair-accessible units in the building.

Burnham told the Independent, “Partnering VYHS and St. Georges Society with Coast brings a vibrancy to the building’s community. The current Yaffa House residents wish to invite all the residents of the building into their celebrations. And having VYHS as a partner helps the neighborhood see the building as a home and not an institution.” VYHS has committed to fund the cost of a small kosher kitchen within the facility that will be used to host special events and religious occasions.

Allyson Muir, manager of mental health and addictions housing at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, added, “We collaborate with a variety of organizations to benefit the greater health of communities we serve. This partnership with the province, city and societies is a perfect avenue for us to extend our reach and provide services to those most at risk in our region.”

In recalling a previous groundbreaking ceremony at Richards and Robson streets, Burnham said, “I went along with three tenants the day before the ceremony so they could see their new apartments on their own: tears were rolling down their faces as they saw for the first time their own new kitchen, their own bathrooms and windows.”

The grand opening is expected to be in late spring of 2011. According to Coast, tenants will be selected through a referral system set up by B.C. Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Coast Mental Health. Priority will be given to those who qualify as low-income, people with disabilities and individuals with mental health issues who currently reside in the Dunbar, West Point Grey and Kitsilano areas, or whose origins were these communities. Coast Mental Health will manage the apartments in this green building, designed to LEED Gold standards, within a framework of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery, which is congruent with best practices in housing services delivery. Features of the development will include:

• Approximate 4,000 square feet of ground floor retail space owned by the city of Vancouver, which will lease the units to retail business operators.

• 47 self-contained studio residential units.

• Four wheelchair-accessible units.

• Amenities, including a kitchen, lounge, meeting rooms, offices and other spaces for residents’ program and leisure needs.

Susan J. Katz is a freelance writer, editor and award-winning poet living in Vancouver. You can contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 Courtesy Jewish Independent newspaper  www.jewishindependent.ca

Vancouver Yaffa Housing society purchases second home!

Jewish Independent newspaper, www.jewishindependent.ca/contact.html         November 6, 2009

New home for Yaffa residents

A second house is purchased to meet a community need.
SUSAN J. KATZ

The piano sounds of "Lecha Dodi" and other Shabbat songs mingled with the chatter and hubbub of the residents, family and friends of Vancouver's Yaffa House, at the Kabbalat Shabbat gathering on Oct. 30. The residents had something very special to celebrate: their new neighbors will be more Vancouver Yaffa Housing Society (VYHS) residents, thanks to generous donations by several community families. VYHS provides homes for Jewish adults with mental illness.

According to VYHS board member Aaron Estrin, "This type of housing need, for people with a mental illness, is the same, a parallel, to all the seniors housing we already have; this is just another segment of our community that is, perhaps, even more vulnerable. This is a population that deserves the same recognition."

Estrin hopes that adding this new residence, which is next door to the current house, plus the additional five units of supportive housing in the Dunbar neighborhood, will put VYHS back in the forefront of the Jewish community's consciousness.

"VYHS is trying to grow. We have five plus five plus five equals 15 units now. This has to be ongoing – and the community has needs far beyond that." Estrin is referring to the recent needs assessment report (2008) commissioned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, which indicates that there are about 1,200 adults in the Jewish community living with a mental illness who require supportive housing. Even with the new purchase, the number of units available to house them remains far short of the total number needed.

Dr. Robert Huber, VYHS president noted that, "more donations are needed for operations and furnishings before the home can be populated. Specific needs include bedroom and kitchen furnishings, electrical work, drywalling and painting. The basement area could be renovated to add two more living quarters to the three on the main floor. The proximity, because it is next door to the current Yaffa House, will benefit our society by allowing an overlap of services to all of the residents."

Guest and community member Dori Jaffe was excited and relieved about the new residence, saying, "I'm so happy – there's more housing for adults with a mental illness, and it's so impressive.... I'm relieved, and it's next door. It has an enormous backyard and there can be flowerbeds and a regular vegetable garden and it's so quiet. I'm so happy and grateful to the donors for being willing to support this venture."

Lyle Lexier, who plays the piano at Yaffa House whenever he attends the gatherings, would like to live in the VYHS community. "I'd like to move to Yaffa House too so I don't have to eat out and I can manage my diet better," he said.

Lexier plays piano by ear. "I don't know music theory well but I do know how to tell the key and 'read' the music in my head, and then I can play the tune once I've heard it."

Having the new residence directly adjacent to the current home has many advantages. Charles Leibovitch, mental health support worker for Yaffa House, will be able to attend to the residents of both homes without losing time traveling. Most importantly, though, having two homes creates more community for the residents.

According to Estrin, "We always need volunteers, board help and fundraising from the community. We hope this is significant enough to get the attention it needs in our community. We're in this venture for the long haul."

Susan J. Katz is a Vancouver freelance writer.