Image: Heather Maahs

By MLA Heather Maahs, Chilliwack North

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Chilliwack cannot shoulder the province’s homelessness crisis alone

Feb 8, 2025 | 10:03 AM

Chilliwack is a close-knit farming community. Its residents are amongst the most tolerant and accommodating in our province.

For years, its residents, businesses, and frontline organizations have gone above and beyond to support those in need—providing food, shelter, and aid. Organizations such as the Salvation Army, Cyrus Centre, Ruth & Naomi’s Mission Shelter, just to name a few, work tirelessly and without complaint, to care for the most vulnerable in our community.

Growing homelessness is beyond the breaking point in our community. There are never enough shelter beds, people are still sleeping on the streets, and some are even dying there.

Crime is rising. Chilliwack now ranks third highest in Canada for number of murders and is the most dangerous city when it comes to serious crime. And yet, instead of providing real solutions and support, the provincial government is literally shipping homeless people here, leaving us to take care of them—without a plan for housing or resources. There are consequences to this out-of-control homelessness crisis and Chilliwack is faced with it every single day.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon does not seem to understand the significance of this crisis or hear the concerns Chilliwack residents are struggling with every day. When he says, “some communities are willing to step up,” it demonstrates a lack of understanding that “some communities” are being overwhelmed by this responsibility because the burden is not equally shared across the province. For example, based on the 2021 census, Minister Kahlon’s riding of Delta, with a population of 108,455, has zero beds for those who are out in the cold. In Chilliwack, with a population of 93,203, there are 206 beds for the homeless, not including extreme weather response shelters.

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This is neither equitable nor sustainable.

Chilliwack is being pushed to the breaking point. Our community and the supportive care providers here, are paying a high, unsustainable price. The provincial government needs to get serious about solving homelessness once and for all. This crisis cannot continue to be offloaded on small rural communities, allowing other jurisdictions to wash their hands of the issue.

We need real leadership—leadership that addresses root causes of homelessness and treats it as a province-wide issue. With appropriate urgency, resources, and financial support to meet this growing crisis in our province, we can ensure that homelessness in BC is ended once and for all.

These are people who need our help now.——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.