Image: Supplied by City of Chilliwack / Chilliwack City Council is pictured. Council unanimously voted to award a $480,500 contract on Tuesday (Oct. 4) to Pacific Community Resources Society for the establishment of a daytime wellness shelter for homeless people. The shelter location is unknown at this time.
Daytime shelter

Chilliwack City Council awards $480,500 contract for daytime wellness shelter; location unknown

Oct 8, 2022 | 6:00 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack City Council voted unanimously at its meeting this past Tuesday (Oct. 4) to award a $480,500 contract to Pacific Community Resources Society for the establishment of a daytime wellness shelter.

The contract was not on the council agenda and there was no PDF attachment on the electronic agenda. The contract award was added as a last-minute item to Tuesday’s agenda.

The City of Chilliwack had been soliciting applicants from a request for proposals (RFP) for the establishment of a daytime wellness shelter.

The RFP period closed Friday, September 23; the RFP was first issued back in August inviting qualified proponents to submit documents to successfully operate a wellness shelter for a term commencing October 15 and ending April 15, 2023.

The shelter location is not known at this time.

The B.C. NDP government announced back on August 22 that it will provide over $600,000 in funding for a daytime wellness centre in Chilliwack to provide refuge for homeless people as well as a separate Indigenous youth outreach project.

Chilliwack New Democrat MLA Dan Coulter said at the time that people who are unhoused will have more access to support services in Chilliwack as a result of provincial funding.

“People need community services now more than ever and this pilot project will be a great addition to Chilliwack,” said Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack.

The City of Chilliwack is receiving $655,185 to respond to the impacts of homelessness through the Pilot Day Shelter, Training and Indigenous Supports project. This project will provide a new day-time wellness centre with wraparound supports where people can go to seek refuge and services, provide service provider training and focus on Indigenous youth outreach.

Of the funding allocation announced by the B.C. NDP government, $200,000 is going to an Indigenous youth outreach project, which is separate from the day shelter.

Jamie Leggatt, director of communications for the City of Chilliwack, previously confirmed that this provincial funding for a daytime wellness centre is the same one that was being advertised in the bids and tenders section of the City of Chilliwack website.

An addendum to the RFP indicated the successful proponent may be required to locate and secure an appropriately zoned site within the City of Chilliwack for the operation of the wellness shelter.

The project includes the provision of all labour and materials necessary to start up and operate a wellness shelter in accordance with the specifications contained in the RFP. Funding for this project is currently being provided by the following partners: Union of BC Municipalities, Fraser Health and Chilliwack Reaching Home, which will require quarterly detailed reports and financial reports.