As winter rain storms begin, and overnight temperatures drop, many of Chico's unhoused residents will be in need of emergency overnight shelter. That need is filled by Safe Space, a nonprofit that partners with local churches to provide low-barrier overnight winter shelter. But this year, it's not clear exactly how their operations will work.
The organization is in need of a permanent building to use as an administrative office, and as an intake center where participants can meet, store belongings, and be transported to the church that's providing shelter. They've been searching for locations for these services since their previous intake center at the former 7-11 was closed by the city last winter, and they lost their administrative office location in March.
Last month, Safe Space identified a new location on Esplanade. It hoped to use it for administrative offices and an intake center, with the hopes of adding shower and laundry services in the future. They were told that their plan would require a land use permit that costs thousands of dollars to apply for, and takes months to complete.
Safe Space Executive Director Hilary Crosby said the nonprofit is considering its options moving forward.
"We are in the process now of meeting with additional professionals who can help us in this area," Crosby said. "I don't want to know coding and zoning and all these things, so I'm looking to people that do."
Crosby said the organization can either scale down the proposed services at the new location, or add additional resources like shelter beds to become a Low Barrier Navigation Center, which have state-laws in place to make them easier to build.
Crosby believes that if the site was only used as an intake center and office for employees, that it would fall under business use, and not subject to the expensive fees and lengthy process of a Conditional Use Permit.
"One of the reasons that we were not able to use the 7-11 (building) last year was because we were considered an office, and you're not allowed to have an office on the first floor building in downtown north zoning in Chico," Crosby said. "So I'm kind of confused as to how we can be an office one time, and then we're not an office the next year."
Crosby said after the building on Esplanade is renovated, the organization is likely to move its administrative and case management services there. She said that use is permitted by right for the property. She said the group is going through the review and application process for this use which only has a $500 fee.
"I don't want to give anyone an opportunity to say that corners were cut," she said.
If Safe Space is not able to use the site as an intake center this year, Crosby said there's a tentative agreement in place to use a church parking lot — the same location used after the last intake center was closed.
Safe Space will begin overnight winter shelter on Dec. 25, and expects to operate through the end of February. It is still in a contract to receive funding from the city of Chico for its services.
City officials said Safe Space has not yet submitted an application for other use of the proposed site, and that it would work with Safe Space when they make a new proposal.
