In September 2017, a once-notorious establishment in Surrey, where sirens had rung out daily and women were profoundly exploited, underwent an incredible transformation with support from the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society, which provided a $75,000 responsive grant for much-needed renovations.

The vision is borne out of an undeniable need. People are better off when they can afford a home where home is: where they work, go to school, where their social connections are and/or where they’ve lived their entire lives.

Since 2007 alone, the Van Tel/Safeway Legacy Fund has granted more than $1.5 million back to the community. But that is just dollars. The magnitude of the real gift is much larger, as it lives on in the lives of every person touched by the hundreds of organizations that received funding, and in all the future grants to come, built on the 60-year history of these credit unions and the goodwill of thousands of their members.

In 2017, with an investment from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Affordable Rental Housing Innovation Fund, the PDF Loan program expanded and introduced a new Pre-Construction loan that provides additional and longer-term capital into non-profit affordable rental housing initiatives.

No money changed hands. A contract was signed to acquire 31 new units of below market rental housing in the City of Richmond, BC. And all of the players received what they wanted in the ultimate win-win-win scenario for non-profit housing in this province.

Together with Catalyst Community Developments Society, and Simon Fraser Society for Community Living (with SHARE Family and Community Services), St. Andrew’s United Church in Port Moody is pursuing a vision for a re-development of their existing Church property that will greatly benefit the Tri-Cities community.

The Westcoast Genesis Society is a non-profit organization and registered charity that formed in April 2000. From the onset, its mission was to actively promote the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being of persons who are socially marginalized in the community. This led to supportive housing and programs for adult male offenders and the chronically homeless. Maria Keary Cottage is...

In 2004, Phoenix Drug and Alcohol Recovery Society received the $1 Million Vancity Award through the Vancity grant program – as voted on by Vancity members – to finish its flagship 34,000 square-foot centre. At the time, it was one of the first projects to integrate addiction services, transitional housing, employment, and education services under one roof. The Centre proved...

Atira Property Management Inc. means a lot of good for a lot of people. Atira Women’s Resource Society is a non-profit organization committed to ending violence against women. They do this through direct service, education, and increasing awareness about the impact violence against women and children has on our communities. Atira operates 12 transition and long-term housing sites in the...

As the only queer and trans resource centre in the province, QMUNITY launched nearly four decades ago. Since that time they have been at the forefront of supporting and advocating for the queer and trans community - be it through peer support, public education or simply making connections that help build true equality and belonging. Although QMUNITY has seen its...