An offer to purchase a property for a health contact centre in Chilliwack has been inked by the province, according to a source at BC Housing.
Project proponents, including
partners like Pacific Community Resources Society, have been hammering away at the housing proposal for years, trying to establish a contact centre for the city’s homeless and addicted.
Subject removal is expected by Feb. 28 with a tentative closing date of March 31, and the location will be announced once those milestones are achieved.
“A rezoning would be required and PCRS will be completing an application to the City,” said the BC Housing rep in an email to The Progress. “We anticipate city council may consider rezoning in March.”
Once the purchasing details and rezoning applications are approved, a process to identify capital funding for renovations and operating funds will begin.
“It is anticipated the centre could house up to approximately 34 people, and PCRS and other service providers are planning to offer a range of health support services at the centre, however it is early in the process and details on the type of housing and supports still need to be developed.”
About 100 people in the Chilliwack community are thought to be homeless on a long-term basis, while service
providers estimate there are another 200 in various stages of homelessness.
Project advocates thought they had found a suitable location downtown last year for transitional and emergency housing in a contact centre, but the Traders Inn property on Yale Road was sold to another buyer before an offer could be made.
This offer to purchase a new Chilliwack property, near downtown, has been accepted by the seller, but the subject conditions still have to be removed.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com