CHICO — Circling back on a declared shelter crisis in 2021, Chico reported numeric outcomes of progress made in the city during fiscal year 2022-2023 in a Dec. 19 letter to state agencies.
According to the report, 1,290 people were served in emergency shelters in Chico from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023.
It also reported 998 people exited the shelter system and are “no longer in need” of shelter or permanent supportive housing in the city.
The data for these two figures were sourced from the Butte County Homeless Continuum of Care.
A list of services funded by Chico were also included in the report, with outcomes including:
• 86 people served through Catalyst Domestic Violence Services.
• 198 people served at Jesus Center’s Sabbath House congregate shelter.
• 737 people served at Torres Community Shelter.
• 63 people and individuals served through Chico Housing Action Team’s Hands Up Supportive Housing program.
Chico’s Outreach and Engagement Team, which is responsible for assessing people for appropriate shelter, reported 214 unique assessments in the year. Since the team’s formation in 2022, a total of 510 assessments have been completed, the report said.
In the realm of housing, seven concurrent affordable housing projects were in pre-development or construction during the year with 258 total housing units completed at Creekside Place Apartments and North Creek Crossing Apartments.
Other items funded by Chico included exterior improvements and staff support to the Torres Community Shelter; a housing match service with Home and Heart; and funding to the Catholic Ladies Relief Society to assist with homeowner bills and prevent eviction.
The report also listed its two added “alternate camping sites” on the southeast corner of Eaton and Cohasset roads as one of its new actions taken this year.
