Chilliwack – On July 25, at the Coast Chilliwack Hotel, the third Homeless and Housing Information session took place. This was sponsored by the Chilliwack BIA – Business Improvement association, the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce along side with the PCRS Pacific Community Resources Society, Chilliwack Community Services and Cyrus Centre.
Some two dozen business owners were at the meeting, as this was not a public event. The previous info session attracted over 60 business owners and managers, so staff were disappointment with the turnout, but also acknowledging that the height of summer vacations would have an impact on attendance.
Graham McMahon, the new housing development coordinator for PCRS, as well as Kim Lloyd (also of PCRS) were steadfast in describing the burgeoning homeless population as “homegrown” and not “bused in from other cities”. Their findings show 60% of the homeless population are from Chilliwack.
Their three main causes for the uptick in homeless, especially since 2014, were housing affordability, addiction and mental health issues.
All were extremely grateful that homeless projects/modular housing is under construction and going on line in the near future.
The only two notable politicians in the audience were Councillors Sue Attrill and Ken Popove.
The video Q and A follows the opening remarks.
The opening remarks are from Graham McMahon, the new housing development coordinator for PCRS:
