Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove. (Image Credit: City of Chilliwack.)

By Mike Vanden Bosch

No room in the inn

With FIFA World Cup approaching, Mayor Popove urges Vancouver mayor not to ship unhoused tenants to Chilliwack

Mar 5, 2026 | 4:17 PM

CHILLIWACK – As the City of Vancouver prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026 by transforming its downtown area into a vibrant pedestrian zone and cleaning up some SRO housing units, Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove says the city doesn’t have the capacity to accept any tenants from Vancouver.

CBC Vancouver reported in November 2025 that residents of the Luugat, a supportive housing complex in downtown Vancouver, will be forced to move out of their homes by June just before the World Cup is played between June 11 and July 20. The Luugat contains approximately 110 units, CBC Vancouver reported.

The Vancouver Sun reported on February 28, 2026, that over a dozen downtown organizations have warned the city that homeless residents will be left exposed as part of a two-kilometre beautification zone around B.C. Place, which is required under FIFA’s host city agreement.

As a matter of fact, the City of Vancouver announced this past week that it will create the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone to welcome residents and visitors to a people-first street that creates a dynamic, family-friendly destination space to best enhance the tournament experience.

But Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove worries that some of those residents who will be displaced might be shipped out to Chilliwack.

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“Watching the news last night and this morning, and Mayor Ken Sim announcing that they’re gonna shut down four or five blocks for the FIFA World Cup festivities, I think it’s a great idea,” Mayor Popove told 89.5 JR Morning host Glen Slingerland Thursday morning. “They dd the same thing in 2010 for the Vancouver Olympics. There’s a couple SROs where they have to transplant some people someplace else. Mayor Sim says they’re working with the province, BC Housing to find accommodation for these folks, which is great. I just want to send a message. Chilliwack is full. Do not send any folks out here. We have no room in the inn. Our service providers are up to their eyeballs with the influx of folks coming here.”

Popove says he’s advocated for a fair and equitable distribution of housing in other communities across B.C. since Chilliwack has the highest per capita share of supportive housing beds in the Lower Mainland.

“Interestingly enough, there was a supportive housing unit that was supposed to be built in Burnaby. That’s off the table,” he told Slingerland. “A few months back, Richmond. That’s off the table. Abbotsford City Council pulled the plug on another one. I’ve been advocating for fair and equitable housing for these folks. Chilliwack per capita has the most supportive housing beds in the Lower Mainland. Just a message to Ken (Sim). Do not send people our way. We cannot accept any. I don’t know how you’re going to deal with it. I don’t how the province and BC Housing will deal with it. I just want to send a message: we’re full.”

He says he’s been in contact with Chilliwack service providers and who say there just isn’t any more room or capacity to handle any more transplants from Vancouver or elsewhere.

“It’s frustrating. Our influx of folks in the past few months has been incredible,” he said. “Talking to the service providers, they’re having a hard time keeping up.”