Fraser Valley – Yet another Arctic outflow warning has the shelters in the Fraser Valley once again scrambling to provide shelter for the homeless, if they want it. There are only 93 beds available in the Fraser Valley for the homeless yet the population is in the hundreds.
Chilliwack’s Ruth and Naomi Mission (RAN) as well as Salvation Army and Cyrus Centre need more donations of blankets, jackets and gloves.
The Alano Clubs in Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack are not zoned to house the homeless overnight, although there is plenty of misinformation on social media, stating that they could handle the cold warriors.
Many shelter workers will be the first to say that while beds will be open, many homeless will NOT use the facilities due to trust factors or barrier restrictions (those are the use of drugs and alcohol in the shelter, accommodating pets and storing personal belongings.
Chilliwack Shelters:
Ruth & Naomi’s Mission
46130 Margaret Avenue
Beds: 26
The Salvation Army
45746 Yale Road
Beds: 5
Cyrus Centre
45845 Wellington Avenue
Beds: 12
Abbotsford Shelters:
Cyrus Centre
2616 Ware Street
Beds: 10
The 5 and 2 Ministries
33933 Gladys Avenue
Beds: 20
The Governing Council of the Salvation Army
34081 Gladys Avenue
Beds: 20
