A regular Sunday night dinner and church service has been welcoming dozens of people who are currently unhoused in Richmond.
The Salvation Army Richmond Community Church on Gilbert Road, just north of Blundell, has been hosting the fellowship for about six weeks.
For two years, outreach worker Stephanie Scramstad had been taking Richmond’s vulnerable residents to Langley Recovery Church, held at Christian Life Assembly. But it was a long drive and she was limited to the number of people she could take in their van.
“We didn’t have anything that catered to us in Richmond,” Scramstad told the Richmond News.
Recovery Church in Richmond is now organized by local homelessness outreach workers Glenda Strang, Jackson Puls and Scramstad. They are supported by Pastor Steve Yau with the Salvation Army church.
Recently released homelessness statistics show the number of people living on the street in Richmond has gone down by 11 per cent in two years, but those living in shelters or temporary accommodations has gone up by 27 per cent.
There were 175 people in Richmond either living without shelter or in local shelters, extreme weather response shelters, hospitals or other facilities that weren’t permanent.
The Point in Time count, done on March 10 by Homelessness Services Association of BC and Infocus Consulting as well as community groups, agencies and volunteers, counted how many people are without permanent housing at a given time. This was last done in 2023.
Recovery Church feels like 'coming home'
Donny (last name withheld) was partaking in chili and pizza at Recovery Church on Gilbert Road this past Sunday.
He’s been living in his car after rent became too expensive, and often his meal at Recovery Church or those delivered nightly by outreach workers is the only food he gets in a day.
After waking up in hospital a year ago from an overdose, his third one, Donny decided it was time to make a change in his life.
He was able to get into Richmond House, the homeless shelter in Ironwood run by the Salvation Army, and he has been on a path to recovery since then.
He credits the staff and program at what he calls the “five-star poorhouse” for his recovery.
“I found salvation through grace at Richmond House,” Donny said.
As for Recovery Church, Donny said it feels like “coming home.”
“Everyone feels welcome,” he said. “It’s a friendship thing, not just a fellowship.”
After the home-cooked chili meal, prepared by Strang, and Little Caesars pizza spread, everyone moved to the church sanctuary, where, after a short prayer and a song, attendees were able to share their perspectives on the night’s theme, this time “trust.”
Recovery Church runs every Sunday evening with dinner at 7 p.m. and a fellowship at 8 p.m. at Salvation Army Richmond Community Church, 8280 Gilbert Rd.
For more information about Richmond Recovery Church, reach out to the Salvation Army at 604-277-2424 or Strang at [email protected].
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