Union Gospel Mission clarifies it does not drop off people in Chilliwack without housing

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“As an organization that has been walking alongside marginalized communities throughout the Lower Mainland for over 80 years, after watching it and doing an internal investigation, we stand by the care and compassion shown by our UGM Staff Member,” UGM said. “There are several layers to the events that unfolded on Saturday morning that require a critical lens; we appreciate the space to share what actually happened.”

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UGM categorically says it does not drive community members anywhere unless there is a clear plan in place to support them upon arrival.

“For example, driving someone to a detox centre, a meeting with a prospective landlord, or to access other specified services,” UGM clarified. “On Saturday morning, after unsuccessfully looking for parking directly in front of the house that the community member said they’d be renting a suite in, our outreach worker was absolutely unnerved after pulling over in what they felt was a suitable spot for the community members to hop out, when they were met with accusations and threats, all while being recorded.”

UGM said the staff member acted accordingly and did what he could under the circumstances.

“The staff member in the video has value beyond measure at UGM,” UGM said. “The trust and instinct that they utilized with these two individuals has guided them well in many interactions with community members who otherwise have been dehumanized and demoralized. The video shows our staff member providing care and connection through a ride and meal to two men who they believed were going to meet a potential (private) landlord, and who chose to engage as minimally as possible with the individual who recorded the video.”

In a phone conversation with Fraser Valley Today at 6:58 p.m. Tuesday evening, Mayor Popove stood by what was shown in the video and admits he “rattled a few chains” with UGM, but is moving on to other issues. He said he spoke to the UGM president and does not plan to speak further on the matter.

UGM says one of the individuals who sought accommodations in Chilliwack did not secure housing, stayed in a shelter overnight in Chilliwack, and was driven back to the original shelter he was staying at in Mission where there were supports in place to help him map out his next steps.

“On Saturday morning, April 22, after speaking with the mayor, as we first began piecing together what we could without having seen the video, we were very concerned that vulnerable community members might be getting offers of housing in the Fraser Valley,” UGM said. “We sent outreach workers on a walk through the Downtown Eastside, connecting with folks sleeping rough and asking if they had heard of, or were being offered, rides with promises of housing in the Fraser Valley. After speaking with multiple individuals, the claim that ‘people are being dropped off from other places’ is unsubstantiated in our view.”

At the same time, UGM says it is fully aware that municipalities around the province are overwhelmed by the ongoing housing, affordability and homelessness crisis.

“As an organization, we are committed to being part of the solution,” UGM said. “The scale and scope of these challenges are too much for municipalities and individual organizations like UGM to manage. That is why we started our Mobile Mission for the Fraser Valley in 2019. By having an agile team on wheels, equipped with the necessities to address immediate needs while building trust, we are able to connect with folks entrenched within hidden and rural homeless camps to begin taking sustainable steps forward.”

UGM says it stands by its outreach team member who took the client at his word.

“This is a case of an Outreach Worker having a huge heart for the people we serve,” UGM said. “Believing someone when they said that they had housing. And helping them take steps to move their life forward. We are grateful for our caring staff who continually walk alongside our community.”