rn3Ruth and Naomi’s Mission in Chilliwack is expanding, thanks to the help of the city and the Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Club. The new homeless shelter, which will start taking people tomorrow (Thursday), has beds for 12 men and 4 women. Executive Director Bill Raddatz says unlike before when they could only take people between 9pm and 7am, this is a little more long term.

“So now we’re going to offer to them to stay for a 30 day period, and within that period we will give them milestones and develop a plan for them, to hopefully get them off the street and get them into some sort of housing, if not here, or at least into our recovery program which is here.”

Ruth and Naomi’s takes in homeless people every night, but because they serve dinner to between 100 and 200 people in the main hall, they can’t start taking people until 9pm, and need them up and out of the room by 7am each day. That is all changing now, although Raddatz says they will still use the main hall for overflow or as an emergency weather shelter.

The rotary club put up $73,000 for the expansion. Fieny van den Boom with the rotary says it’s something they were happy to do.

“Every level of society cares about the people who are less fortunate. If we all can give a little bit, we can change the lives of a lot of people, and I think that’s the general feeling of people in Chilliwack….rotary clubs, lions clubs, all these service clubs.”

The city, which doesn’t usually fund projects they don’t own, put up the other $27,000.

Local MLAs John Martin and Laurie Throness, along with Mayor Sharon Gaetz and councilors Ken Popove and Sam Waddington, and even representatives from the Salvation Army were in attendance for the ribbon cutting.  15 people will be walking through the doors as of tomorrow, and it will fill up quickly.

Ruth and Naomi’s serves over 200 meals daily to homeless and low income individuals in the community. They also provide a long term recovery program to help people get back on their feet.

(L-R) Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz, Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Club President Gary Armstrong and Ruth&Naomi's Executive Director Bill Raddatz cut the ribbon on the new shelter expansion
(L-R) Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz, Chilliwack Fraser Rotary Club President Gary Armstrong and Ruth&Naomi’s Executive Director Bill Raddatz cut the ribbon on the new shelter expansion
The new shelter will provide 16 new beds, 12 for men and 4 for women, in two separate rooms with a common room in between.
The new shelter will provide 16 new beds, 12 for men and 4 for women, in two separate rooms with a common room in between.