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At 2.69 beds per 1,000 people, there are more shelter beds per capita in the city than in any other community in the Lower Mainland

Chilliwack has the highest number of shelter beds per capita out of all cities in the Lower Mainland, and city council wants the Government of B.C. to “take an equitable approach to shelter bed locations.”

In a recent memo from staff, Mayor Ken Popove and city council were told that Chilliwack has 2.69 shelter beds per 1,000 population, according to the last census population numbers and shelter bed numbers from BC Housing’s website.

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“Chilliwack shelters are full, and we are focused on taking care of the vulnerable members of our community” – Mayor Ken Popove

In comparison, most other Lower Mainland communities (with the exception of Vancouver) numbers range from 0-to-1.61 beds per 1,000 population (source: Metro Vancouver’s Housing Data Book, 2023, page 154). 

“Based on these numbers, Chilliwack city council would like to see BC Housing develop shelter beds in an equitable manner between all communities and are concerned that people are migrating to places like Vancouver and Chilliwack because there are a greater number of beds,” according to a city news release issued Wednesday (Jan. 29, 2025).

Long stated as a concern of some residents, often decried as a myth or an urban legend, there seems to evidence to back up the claim that individuals in charge of health resources in other municipalities are shipping people out to Chilliwack in buses and taxis.

“We have already learned of several instances where hospitals in the Fraser Health and Coastal Health regions have discharged individuals with complex-care needs and sent them via taxi to shelters in Chilliwack, despite being told there are no beds available,” Mayor Ken Popove said. “Chilliwack shelters are full, and we are focused on taking care of the vulnerable members of our community. We can’t continue to serve as a destination for people needing shelter space, especially when we know people have the best support in their home communities.” 

Chilliwack city council plans to reach out to the Province, BC Housing, Fraser Health and the Ministry of Health to advocate for an equal distribution of shelter spaces throughout the province in order for people to have the opportunity to stay in their home communities. Council will also continue to advocate for expanded access to detox beds, sobering beds and stabilizing beds in communities across BC.

“We are a small community that has done the best we can to support service providers and the needs of those within our community,” Popove said. “The service providers have done an incredible job in Chilliwack and should be proud of everything they have accomplished, but we acknowledge that we have reached full capacity as a community. We need the Province to step up and take care of housing and health care equitably to ensure shelters and services aren’t concentrated in just one or two communities.”

A list of current shelter spaces available in Chilliwack can be found online at chilliwack.com/shelters.

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Paul J. Henderson
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