Dear SUMS Place Team,

I am writing to you today with a full heart and a deep sense of pride in everything we have accomplished together.

Our 2025 Annual Report is now published, and I want to take a moment to share what it reflects—not just as a document, but as a testament to who you are and what you do every single day.

What We Accomplished in 2025

This past year, in the face of a growing homelessness crisis—with 1,078 individuals identified as experiencing homelessness in Surrey, a 65% increase since 2020—we showed up. Every day. Without fail.

44,745 Bed-Nights Provided	161,000+ Meals Served	896 Individuals Supported
2,631 Outcomes Achieved	532 Volunteers	7,155 Volunteer Hours

We also launched the Community Meal Program as a fully unfunded program in April 2025, distributing approximately 50 breakfasts and 75 lunches daily from our front window at no cost to anyone in need. We hosted our Community Christmas Lunch. We ensured that every resident of Safe Sleep transitioned with dignity when that program concluded. We deepened partnerships with Fraser Health, Trinity Western University, Downtown Surrey BIA, our elected officials and so many others. We did all of this while building upon stronger HR systems, more consistent policies, and a healthier workplace — because we know that how we care for each other is inseparable from how we care for our guests.

A New Name. The Same Mission.

As of February 2026, we are proud to carry a new name: SUMS Place Society.

This name was not chosen lightly. It reflects what this organization has always truly been — a place. A place to rest. A place to heal. A place to belong. Every one of you is part of what makes that place real.

Looking Ahead

Alongside our Annual Report, I am pleased to share our first-ever five-year Strategic Plan, guiding SUMS Place Society from 2026 through 2031. This plan is the result of deep reflection on who we are and bold intention about who we are becoming.

Healthy Workforce — Because you are our greatest asset. We will invest in workplace safety, HR processes, professional development, and equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. A staff team that feels valued and supported delivers care that transforms lives.

Cultivating Partnerships —We will formalize and deepen relationships with health, housing, employment, and social service organizations — expanding our reach and amplifying our collective impact across Surrey and beyond.

Expanding Opportunities — Grounded in community need and lived experience, we will pilot new programs, built a grants development department spearheaded by Ida Wang, Director of Development. We will continue to grow our identity as a recognized multi-service organization.

Strengthening Our Foundation — We will pursue accreditation with Imagine Canada, modernize our IT infrastructure, and complete a comprehensive policy and procedure review — because building organizational excellence is how we sustain this mission for decades to come.

This is not growth for the sake of growth. It is preparation — the disciplined, hopeful work of building an organization strong enough to serve community well for years to come.

I am deeply grateful to each of you. The work you do is extraordinary. It is complex, emotionally demanding, and often invisible to the outside world—but it is seen here. It is valued. And it matters more than words can fully express.

You are the heart of SUMS Place.

And I am honoured to serve alongside you.

With gratitude and hope,
William