Chilliwack residents who lost home in Sunday fire appeal for community support

Chilliwack Emergency Support Services volunteers had offered to pay for three nights at a hotel while they were on scene, but the pair will need a little more help rising from the ashes in the long run.

“We are on a small fixed income, and with me currently on stress leave from work, we have no financial cushion to fall back on.”

A stranger then offered to pay for two more nights, and the fundraiser is helping them stay at the Coast Hotel a little longer.

“We are beyond grateful, but after that, we truly don’t know what we will do.”

Having insurance has also led to roadblocks. The couple did not receive any assistance for the first five days after the incident, and due to their coverage, they couldn’t get much help from charity organizations either.

“We’re having trouble with our insurance company to step up and pay for our stay at the hotel,” she told Fraser Valley Today.

St. Louis added that their immediate housing situation remains uncertain as they don’t have family they can stay with anywhere in Chilliwack or B.C. All their friends also have cats, which her partner is allergic to.

“We’re currently paying for our room with the generosity of the community, and without their generosity, we would be without a roof over our head.”

The GoFundMe campaign has raised $995 out of a $2,000 goal at the time of writing– which is only enough to pay for accommodations until checkout at 11 a.m. on March 17th.