The city of Chico has renewed its contract with the nonprofit Safe Space to provide emergency sheltering during periods of dangerously hot or cold temperatures — and it’s taken more than two months to finalize.
While the city has been sweltering under extreme heat for most of the summer, a contract that had lapsed in July between the nonprofit and the city sat unsigned.
When NSPR inquired about the status of the contract during a heat wave last month, City Manager Mark Sorensen said it had been extended. That response quickly changed when Public Works Director Erik Gustafson told the station the contract was still being negotiated. At that point he said it was pending minor changes and was expected to be finalized soon.
But when NSPR followed up on the status of the contract Tuesday — nearly a month later — Executive Director of Safe Space Hilary Crosby said no progress had been made.
NSPR reached out to Sorensen and Gustafson for comment and received no response. But Crosby said Gustafson did reach out to her Tuesday night. Wednesday, she said the city sent over a revised contract.
The new agreement lasts for a year, and can be extended twice. It increases the monthly amount of funds the city can provide to Safe Space, but doesn't increase the annual cap, which is $50,000 a year.
Crosby said the increased monthly allotment will help the nonprofit provide more aid, as the previous cap kept Safe Space from using all the funds allocated.
Other changes include a requirement for Safe Space to distribute fliers to businesses around their shelters, with information on how to contact the nonprofit about issues caused by shelter residents.
Safe Space will provide daytime cooling centers for the city during extreme heat events, and overnight warming centers during the winter months.
