From 2019 to 2024, the average rent for a newly listed one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver increased by approximately 36.6%. Combined with inflation and the rising costs of groceries, many of us are struggling to make ends meet, including residents here on the North Shore.
Fortunately, organizations like Harvest Project are stepping up to provide relief.
Since 1993, Harvest Project has supported individuals and families facing challenges such as family trauma, illness, job loss, poverty and the financial, emotional and social burdens that follow. Over these past decades, the organization has developed a “whole-person approach” that integrates one-on-one coaching and counsel, mental health support, along with physical resources that reduce the pressure of keeping a stressed-out household together each month.
Support needed more than ever
“Folks who are seeking out Harvest Project are coming to us with more intense needs than ever before,” says Chief Development Officer Kevin Lee. “The North Shore continues to be one of the most affluent regions in Canada, though there are many who find themselves on the margins.” Harvest Project’s monthly programs currently care for more than 300 residents, an increase of 15 -20% from last year.
The services they offer include the Nutrition Pathway and Grocery Support Program, which provides families with up to $1,100 per month in groceries and hygiene items and the essential North Shore Rent Bank Program, which offers no-interest loans to cover rent deposits and back payments for residents struggling to meet rising housing costs.
With demand expected only to increase over the next few years, supporting the Harvest Project is more important than ever before – Harvest Project is currently aiming to raise $700,000 during its annual fundraising campaign, which you can contribute to HERE.
By donating, you’ll provide relief to neighbours in need and help Harvest Project expand its services to address the growing challenges ahead. “For the next three to five years at least, we anticipate a severe shortage of affordable rental housing combined with the highest rental costs in Canada,” explains Lee. “There is a significant disconnect between rental prices, housing costs and household incomes—and it’s hard to see this gap narrowing anytime soon.”
Here’s why you should help
By providing a substantial share of clients’ essential needs, including groceries and clothing, Harvest Project empowers North Shore residents to tackle larger challenges like regaining employment, maintaining secure housing, resuming education and keeping children in school. As these individuals and families stabilize, the risks of dysfunction, poverty and homelessness diminish.
The outcome? Families move beyond social isolation and begin participating in the broader community, advancing Harvest Project’s goal of making the North Shore the “most inclusive, healthy and diverse community in Canada.”
To date, Harvest Project has helped over 600 residents and families remain securely housed through its Rent Bank program alone. They are, in essence, a safety net for us all. While optimism is important in an increasingly unstable world, life’s setbacks are often unpredictable. With your support, organizations like the Harvest Project will always be there to catch us if we fall.
To learn more about their mission and how you can make a difference by donating or becoming a monthly supporter, visit harvestproject.org.
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