While millions across the country were focused on watching this week’s solar eclipse, some in Chico were focused on gathering their belongings and carrying them to a new place to sleep in the city.
On Monday, 23 unsheltered residents were forced to relocate after where they were camping was cleared by the city of Chico.
This was the fourth time the city has removed homeless encampments this year. This comes after the city cleared at least 12 homeless encampments last year, according to public documents.
NSPR has spoken with many unhoused residents who’ve had to move multiple times.
A few days ahead of this week’s enforcement, Colleen Olson was getting ready to move from the sidewalk on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway where she was camping. She said this would be the eighth time she’s been moved by the city.
During each enforcement she said she’s been directed by city staff to stay at the Torres Community Shelter. Olson said she’s been to the shelter twice but it wasn’t a good fit for her. She said she was asked to leave once, and left on her own the second time after conflicts with other residents.
“I have no idea where I'm gonna go,” she said. “I just, you know, I can't go there.”
NSPR has spoken to many other unsheltered residents who have cited similar concerns, saying they felt unsafe due to past experiences, they couldn’t sleep when surrounded by so many people at the congregate shelter, or they’ve had belongings stolen by other residents.
The Torres Shelter has told NSPR it's working to make its services more accessible, but many unsheltered residents have said they wish there was a designated place to camp where they wouldn’t be forced to relocate so frequently.
The city of Chico does have an “alternative camping site,” but it’s only accessible to those who are not eligible to stay at either the Torres Shelter or Genesis site, which are the two shelters the city directs unsheltered residents to stay at during encampment removals.
After being denied due to not prioritizing permanent housing, the city of Chico again applied for grant funding to address encampments. The proposal requests funding for rental vouchers to help unsheltered residents transition from camping at various locations through the city to temporary shelters, and eventually to permanent housing.
There are currently 33 available beds at the Torres Shelter, and 23 units at the city’s Genesis site.
Unsheltered residents are given notice of 10 days by the city before being moved.
