Homeless camps in Chilliwack River Valley see slight uptick after trailer gets deposited near Ford Mtn. FSR
CHILLIWACK — After a trailer was deposited over the weekend by a local towing company near Ford Mountain Forest Service Road just off Chilliwack Lake Road, the number of recreational vehicles, tents and vehicles associated to homeless camps in the Chilliwack River Valley now exceeds two dozen.
According to the latest figures from Chilliwack cleanup volunteer Ross Aikenhead, an environmental steward who meticulously documents the location and description of virtually every encampment east of the Vedder Bridge, there are now 21 RVs situated unlawfully on Crown land, two tents, and three vehicles in which individuals currently live. Of the three people residing in their vehicles, two are stationed near Edwards Road West and the other usually floats around Borden Creek, Aikenhead said.
For reference, by his own count, Aikenhead says there were approximately 11 RVs in the Chilliwack River Valley in May 2023.
A stakeholder working group that began meeting in January 2023 to provide support to unhoused individuals living in the rough has not been able to effectively mitigate the spread of homeless camps in the Chilliwack River Valley. The working group clarified in early July 2024 with Fraser Valley Today that it never intended to focus on decampment or enforcement of illegal squatting laws on Crown land. Instead, the working group’s stated mission is “to work collaboratively to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness and solutions to address the safety and environmental risks associated with homeless encampments in the Chilliwack River Valley.” However, the lack of action from any level of government prompted one CRV resident to start a petition that calls for better environmental protection of the Chilliwack River Valley and the removal of an elected official representing the Chilliwack River Valley on the Fraser Valley Regional District board of directors.
