Chilliwack to fund Cheam Emergency Shelter

The Cheam First Nation’s Emergency Shelter will be receiving $148,842 in funding for its 18-bed shelter and associated support services. The money will go towards paying 4.5 full-time equivalent shelter workers and a full-time wellness housing coordinator. The funding will also support the shelter’s program to work with Elders to provide traditional healing services, medicine, and cultural supports.

The Cheam First Nation said they are looking to secure longer term funding, and are about to start construction of a supportive housing facility. Councillors had concerns that people who were homeless in Chilliwack, rather than on the band lands, would not be able to access the facility and deferred the decision from the afternoon council meeting to the evening to get confirmation they would be allowed at the shelter. The motion passed during the evening meeting later that day.