Press Releases

On October 12, 2016, the City of Chilliwack resumed the application to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Chilliwack for an interlocutory injunction to remove people camping in the Empress Lane parking lot. The court ruled in favour of the City, stating that all structures must be removed by noon on October 19, 2016. The City’s updated Parks Bylaw made it possible to seek this injunction and the availability of new minimum barrier beds at the Salvation Army was also referenced by the court.

The Salvation Army initially planned to open 30 minimum barrier beds on November 1, 2016, thanks to funding from the Province. With an immediate need for shelter beds due to the homeless encampment, Chilliwack Mayor and Council reached out to MLA Laurie Throness and MLA Rich Coleman, the Minister Responsible for Housing, to see if interim funding was available to open the 30 beds immediately. Both the Province and the Salvation Army have worked quickly to respond to this need in our community.

In a letter to Mayor and Council from Tim Bohr, Community Ministries Director, with the Chilliwack Salvation Army, he confirmed that the 30 bed temporary emergency shelter will be able to open by Friday, October 14, and will utilize their soup kitchen area.

“We are pleased that the Salvation Army, in cooperation with BC Housing, is able to quickly open beds to provide a safer option for the individuals living in the homeless camp in the Princess Lane parking lot,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “We would also like to thank MLA Laurie Throness and Minister Rich Coleman for responding so quickly to this urgent need in Chilliwack.”

During the hearing, the judge asked for specific examples of parks where homeless people could erect overnight temporary shelters and the City’s legal counsel provided some examples based on the bylaw restrictions. This does not imply that the City recommended park space as a viable solution to homelessness, nor is the City directing homeless people to a specific public park.

“Our parks are not designed for overnight camping and are not a long term solution to homelessness in our community,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “It is our hope that all individuals in Chilliwack will have an opportunity to be housed. We will continue to advocate senior levels of government for funding and housing solutions to better meet the growing issue of homelessness in our community and across BC.”

On June 7, 2016, City Council adopted a Chilliwack Homelessness Action Plan to address homelessness and the need for increased affordable housing in Chilliwack. This plan was developed collaboratively with health, social services, housing, and public safety service providers, and outlines clear goals, effective strategies, and specific actions to address homelessness, and the various needs for affordable housing in Chilliwack.

After the BC Supreme Court ruled that municipalities cannot impose blanket prohibitions on homeless individuals setting up temporary structures in public parks, the City of Chilliwack updated the Parks Bylaw in order to manage that usage. Through the updated bylaw, the City strives to accommodate both the Charter rights of homeless people and the rights of residents to use public parks for recreation purposes. The City was able to seek the present court injunction in part to implement and enforce the guidelines outlined in the bylaw.