Image: Ruth and Naomi's

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Emergency seniors housing

Newest seniors housing project in Chilliwack on verge of opening

May 12, 2025 | 8:27 AM

CHILLIWACK — A 43-room seniors housing project in Chilliwack that was previously announced a little over a year ago is moving closer to a completion date.

Ruth and Naomi’s, one of the larger social services agencies in Chilliwack, says a 43-room project for seniors on the grounds of the former IHOP on Yale Road will open soon.

RAN wrote in a social media post over the weekend that it will soon open the doors to The Grove, its newest project in partnership with BC Housing and the City of Chilliwack.

The new space will offer 43 rooms for older adults, programming and support intended to facilitate connection and community.

“We can’t wait to welcome people into a place where they’re seen, supported, and surrounded by care,” RAN wrote. “Thank you to Tasu Construction for your hard work on this project – it’s starting to really come together!”

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Modular structures began arriving in late March in Chilliwack in conjunction with the 43-unit emergency shelter modular development at 45466 Yale Road, the former Travelodge and current location of the Interchange supportive housing facility.

The project consists of 12 modular structures that will be connected to form a single building, and 43 units to act as an emergency shelter for seniors from the Chilliwack area. There will be 24/7 on-site staff supervision provided by Ruth and Naomi’s.

At the February 11, 2025 meeting of Chilliwack City Council, development variance permit and development permit applications to facilitate a new supportive housing development at 45466 Yale Road were referred back to staff to provide further clarification about the use and funding of the site once an initial three-year period has expired, as well as the overall look of the modular buildings.

In response to those questions from councillors, BC Housing, the owner of the project, has since confirmed in a letter that long-term operational funding will be allocated to maintain the facility for 10 years, which is deemed the economic life of the building. The size of the windows has been increased by 30 per cent, the largest possible increase given the design of the building.

In April 2024, the B.C. government announced plans to fund this 43-unit modular housing project at 45466 Yale Rd. Construction had been slated to begin in summer 2024 and be completed by fall 2024, on an underutilized parking lot. Residents will have access to daily meals, a common dining area, laundry, washroom and shower facilities, and a space for community programming.

“Community partners are so important in the delivery of these housing supports and services,” said Kelli Paddon, former MLA for Chilliwack-Kent, in April 2024. “When people work together to address homelessness challenges, we increase safety and security, and everyone benefits from a more supportive and inclusive community. With these temporary housing units, we’ll help bring more people indoors while providing them the supports they need.”

The 43-unit project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the province states it has facilitated nearly 78,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including more than 470 homes in Chilliwack, as of April 2024.