media release - City of Chilliwack

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2014
Chilliwack Healthier Community Partnership addresses barriers to seeking shelter
Since developing the Chilliwack Healthier Community Strategic Action Plan in 2011 Chilliwack has taken
a community wide approach to homelessness. This community based plan utilizes a multifaceted
approach, with continued input from 32 local agencies and organizations as part of the Chilliwack
Healthier Community Partnership (CHC).
Through ongoing discussions, the CHC has been investigating the reason why some people do not use
shelter beds currently available and discussing possible barriers and concerns. As part of that process,
outreach workers with the Salvation Army have recently spent some time on the street talking to the
very people that aren’t making use of the valuable services available.
As a result of these discussions an important barrier was identified and is being addressed. Some
individuals choose not to seek shelter due to the inability to safely secure personal belongings while
utilizing shelter beds. To address this issue, the City of Chilliwack will provide the Salvation Army with a
used storage container for this purpose.
“We are very pleased with the pro-active, compassionate and collaborative approach taken by the CHC
to address this need within our community,” said Tim Bohr, Community Ministries Director, Salvation
Army.
The storage container will reside on the Salvation Army’s property for the purpose of storing the
personal belongings of individuals taking shelter. The container will be locked and secure at all times,
with access limited to Salvation Army staff members.
“We are glad that we are able to apply the extensive expertise of the many health and social service
organizations that make up the CHC in order to find creative solutions and address areas of need,” said
committee Chair, Councillor Ken Popove. “Through open discussion we are able to take a collaborative
and compassionate approach in a timely manner.”
Concerns about homeless people gathering under the Yale Road overpass was recently brought to the
CHC’s attention. Garbage, discarded needles and human feces are some of the public safety concerns at
this location. The CHC, in discussion with local business owners, has developed a plan to effectively
address these concerns. The CHC is hopeful that fencing off the area in combination with increased
education and awareness of services will help address this situation.
The City will start the installation of the fence on Monday, November 24 while the Salvation Army and
the other health and social services organizations will continue to work to help any displaced individuals
find shelter.
-30Media Contacts:
Tim Bohr, Community Ministries Director
Salvation Army
Tel: 604-792-0001
Email: [email protected]
Jamie Leggatt, Communications Manager
City of Chilliwack
Tel: 604-793-2716
Email: [email protected]
Background Information
The Salvation Army, Chilliwack, BC
The Salvation Army Come & Share Centre at 45746 Yale Road features family services, a food bank, and
soup kitchen. The food bank is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm to 3:00
pm. Free bread, donated by local grocers is also available to clients Monday to Friday through a selfservice counter. The soup kitchen is available for adults only, specifically targeting the homeless. It
provides a hot, nutritious meal, Monday to Friday from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. Five partner churches take
turns providing meals to clients on weekends.
Other services provided by the Chilliwack Salvation Army include:
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School Lunch Program
Homeless Outreach Worker
Brigadier Arthur Cartmell House
Cheque Administration
Thrift Store
Voucher Program
Donation Pick-Up Services
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Happy Hearts Day Care
Children’s Summer Camps
Emergency Disaster Services
Fireside Addiction Services
Corrections
For more information visit www.salvationarmychilliwack.ca
Ruth & Naomi's Mission
The Mission is situated in the heart of downtown Chilliwack. They employ 12 staff and dozens of
volunteers to serve the poor and marginalized of the city. Daily they welcome 150 - 200 people for
dinner. The Mission also runs a Residential Recovery program for up to 30 people. Nightly the
Emergency Shelter sees up to 20 individuals. Some of the services available at the Mission include a
Clothing Closet, showers, free laundry, and emergency food hampers. For more information visit
https://www.ruthandnaomis.ca
Cyrus Centre
Cyrus Centre is a ministry of walking alongside vulnerable, homeless youth and their families. It is the
starting point for youth to exit the streets. Providing food services, shelter, clothing, advocacy, referrals,
showers, laundry, life skills development, employment coaching and freedom from exploitation. For
more information visit http://www.cyruscentre.com/
Chilliwack Health and Housing Centre
In October 2013 the Chilliwack Health and Housing Centre opened, providing supportive housing and
onsite health services to people who are homeless or at risk. The two-storey former hotel located at
45921 Hocking Ave. in Chilliwack incorporates a 22-unit supportive housing component, Annis
Residences, managed and operated by Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS). The development
also includes a health contact centre, which will provide a broad range of community support services
delivered by PCRS and Fraser Health.
Background Information
BC Housing in Chilliwack
BC Housing is an arm of the Provincial government which develops, manages and administers a wide
range of subsidized housing options across British Columbia.
They partner with public and private housing providers, other levels of government and community
agencies to create the best system of housing and supports for those in greatest need.
The number of BC Housing beds in Chilliwack, including shelters, supported/assisted living, social
housing and rental assistance is 1256, with a total expenditure of $7,235,000. This includes:
 141 Aboriginal Housing Supports
 631 Senior Housing Supports
 374 low Income Housing Supports
 254 units added since 2001
 7 projects completed or expanded since 2006
Additional information about BC Housing can be found online at www.bchousing.org
Chilliwack Healthier Community (CHC) is a dynamic and growing partnership of local service agencies and
organizations who share a common vision of a healthy, caring community that focuses on quality of life.
Since 2001, partners from a wide range of service areas have been working to actively address the most persistent
issues affecting the health and well-being of our community and its residents. In the fall of 2012, the CHC
partnership formally came together after a series of community forums and the creation of the Chilliwack Healthier
Community Strategic Action Plan. CHC has used the goals and objectives within that plan to identify four key areas
of interest:
Affordable / Accessible Housing, Mental Health, Public Safety and Healthy Lifestyles.
While these are our focus, CHC’s plan and mandate encompass a much broader framework that include many other
social determinants of health: education and literacy, primary and preventative health care, physical and nutritional
health, safe and vibrant public spaces, employment and income levels – and an overall sense of connectedness.
CHC currently has 32 partners who meet monthly. Our brief monthly meeting is immediately followed by an
Information and Networking Breakfast for all service providers, increasing awareness and understanding of
programs and resources available in this community through presentations, discussion and networking. It is the
breadth of knowledge, expertise and influence of our partners that is key to addressing the needs identified by the
community.
CHC Partners:
Alcohol-Drug Education Service
Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce
Chilliwack Child and Youth
Committee
Chilliwack Community Services
Chilliwack & District Seniors
Resources Society
Chilliwack Division of Family
Practice
Chilliwack Economic Partners
Corporation
Chilliwack Hospital & Health Care
Foundation
Chilliwack Learning Society
Chilliwack Social Research and
Planning Council
City of Chilliwack
Community Living BC
Community Representatives
First Nations Health Authority
Fraser Health
Greater Vancouver YMCA
Ministry of Children and Family
Development Chilliwack
Ministry of Social Development and
Social Innovation - Fraser Region
Pacific Community Resources
Society
RCMP Upper Fraser Valley Regional
Detachment
School District 33
Sto:lo Nation Health Services
Xyolhemeylh – Fraser Valley
Aboriginal Child & Family Services
Society
Cyrus Centre Chilliwack
United Way Fraser Valley
The Chilliwack Times
The Chilliwack Libraries
The Chilliwack Hospice Society
The Salvation Army Chilliwack
Ruth and Naomi’s Mission
Ann Davis Transition Society
The Chilliwack Down Town Business
Improvement Association
Happy Hearts Day Care
Emergency Disaster Services
The Salvation Army in Chilliwack is a member of the
city’s Emergency Disaster Response Program.
We provide hot meals to First
Responders in the event of a
disaster at the call of the
Chilliwack Fire Chief. Some of the
other services offered include
victim support, and disaster
clean-up supplies distribution.
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Fireside Addiction Services
Fireside Addiction Services offers hope and
support to individuals and families with a
comprehensive, culturally sensitive program
of recovery. It’s purpose is to provide a faith
based program dedicated
to assisting individuals,
families and the community
toward a positive, addiction
free lifestyle. If you, or
someone you know might
benefit from this program
please call (604) 702-9879
to arrange an interview.
Operated by The Salvation Army Chilliwack Community
Church, Happy Hearts Day Care is a government licensed
day care facility with ECE certified staff. We offer a
standard Preschool-like curriculum in a
Christian themed environment. Our facility
includes a large indoor gymnasium, a
beautiful grassy outdoor play area,
and a certified adventure playground.
The Salvation Army
Chilliwack, BC
Children’s Summer Camps
The Salvation Army in Chilliwack sponsors two Children’s
Summer Camps each year. Holiday Camp occurs at beautiful
Camp Sunrise in Gibson, BC. Holiday
Camp is specifically designed for
at-risk, low income children, and
may be funded by the Ministry of
Housing and Social Development.
Kids Games is a sports themed camp
for community children and occurs at
The Salvation Army Chilliwack Community
Church.
Community
Programs and
Services
Ministries of The Salvation Army Chilliwack:
Care & Share Centre
Family Services, Food Bank, Soup Kitchen
45746 Yale Rd.
604-792-0001
Thrift Store
Corrections
The Salvation Army Chilliwack Corrections
Center is a facility for adult offenders and
their families providing community resources,
undertaking supervision of offenders in community
programs.
Coupled with the traditional
practice of prison cell and courtroom
visitation, this centre is involved with family
group conferencing, pre and post-release
planning, chaplaincy, life skills and literacy
training, as well as providing circles of
support and aftercare. For more information
please contact our office at 604-792-8581.
45742-A Yale Rd.
604-792-3367
Emergency Shelter
45746 Yale Rd.
604-792-4486
Correctional Services
45742 Yale Rd.
604-792-8581
Fireside Addiction Services
#17-45966 Yale Rd (Cascade Centre)
604-702-9879
Chilliwack Community Church
46420 Brooks Ave.
(604) 792-0311
Happy Hearts Daycare
46420 Brooks Ave.
604-792-5285
www.salvationarmychilliwack.ca
Follow us on Facebook: “The Salvation Army Chilliwack”
www.salvationarmychilliwack.ca
Food Bank
Homeless Outreach Worker
The Salvation Army Chilliwack Community Food
Bank provides emergency food to many hungry
families. Applicants provide Intake Workers with
photo ID, proof of income, proof of residency,
and birth certificates or medical cards for their
children. The Food Bank is open Monday to Friday
from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Free bread,
donated by local grocers, is also
available to clients Monday to Friday
through a self-service counter.
The Homeless Outreach Worker provides services
to chronically homeless persons. These services
include advocacy, intervention, and referrals to
Mental Health, Public Health, BC Housing , Ministry
Social Development,
Addictions treatment,
Employment assistance,
Housing referrals,
and other services as
needed. This program is
funded in part by BC
Housing.
Soup Kitchen
Youth Safe House
The Soup Kitchen is available for adults only,
specifically targeting the homeless. It provides a
hot, nutritious meal, Monday to Friday, 12
Noon to 1:00 pm. Five partner churches take
turns providing meals for our clients on weekends.
The Youth Safe House provides emergency shelter
for at-risk children and teens, age twelve to
eighteen. It is open from 3pm to 9am every
weekday, and all day on weekends. Youth may be
referred through Chilliwack Youth Services, local
youth pastors, school counselors, or by self - referral. The
Ministry of Children and Family Development provides
partial funding for the Shelter and is a full partner in
its operation with individual follow-up assistance.
As the only Shelter for youth in the Fraser Valley,
the Youth Safe House meets a critical need for
at-risk teens.
Christmas Hamper Program
The Thrift Store offers
quality used clothing,
household items, and
furniture at low prices.
100% of the profits from
Thrift Store sales are
used to provide for the
other community programs
at The Salvation Army.
Store Hours:
Mon - Fri: 9:30 am to 5 pm
Sat: 9:30 am to 5 pm
Voucher Program
The Salvation Army provides free clothing to
needy individuals through vouchers that are
redeemable in the Chilliwack Thrift Store. Small
Brigadier Arthur Cartmell House
The annual Christmas Hamper Program provides
everything needed for a turkey dinner with all
the trimmings, and toys for each child. Available
through a partnership with Chilliwack Community
Services, applications for this service are available in
November. The always popular Adopt-a-Family
program provides individuals and businesses
with the opportunity to sponsor a client family’s
Christmas Hamper, including gifts specific to the
members in that family.
Operated by the Care & Share Centre
as our Emergency Shelter, the
“House” is partially funded by BC
Housing. It is available by referral
from community help agencies
or directly through The Salvation
Army. Open 24/7, the 12 bed shelter provides
clients with individualized needs assessment and programs, including life skills and spiritual care. Shelter
Staff work closely with the Homeless Outreach
Worker to help break the cycle of homelessness.
School Lunch Program
Cheque Administration
The Salvation Army in Chilliwack supports the
school lunch programs. We
also support the Chilliwack
Community Services “Gateway”
program at Central Elementary
Community School with weekly
lunches.
Thrift Store
The Cheque Administration
Program, housed within the
Care and Share Centre, is an
off site program for the Ministry
of Social Development serving
clients who can no longer be
served at the regular MSD
office.
Only specific clients referred by the Ministry are eligible.
household items such as pots, dishes, cutlery or
linen may also be issued depending on availability.
Assistance with beds, couches, and other
furniture is provided on a case by case basis
depending on need and inventory availability.
Donation Pick-Up Service
Donations of clothing,, linens, house wares,
furniture, and small countertop appliances are
gratefully accepted. These may be dropped off
at the Thrift Stores or at Cottonwood Mall
during Blue-Bag-It Days, which run on the last