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Safe Space opens overnight winter shelter earlier than expected

Safe Space Executive Director Hilary Crosby in the NSPR studio in Chico, Calif. on Dec. 16, 2024.
Alec Stutson
/
NSPR
Safe Space Executive Director Hilary Crosby in the NSPR studio in Chico, Calif. on Dec. 16, 2024.

As the area is hit by a winter rain storm, and overnight temperatures have dropped, many unhoused residents are in need of shelter from the weather. The nonprofit Safe Space hosted its first night of winter shelter operations at Chico First Baptist Church over the weekend, providing a low-barrier shelter to those in need.

Executive Director Hilary Crosby said the first night was attended by 18 people. She said that's an average attendance for the first night, and that attendance increases as the season goes on and word spreads about Safe Space being open.

"This week will be a lot of street outreach," Crosby said. "We have a lot of flyers that we're posting. We sent out bulk emails to our partner organizations [to make] sure that all of our … community [organizations] that interact with people experiencing homelessness know where to find us."

Part of the need for outreach is due to Safe Space's new location. It recently moved its offices into a building on Esplanade. Participants go there to drop off belongings and check-in with staff. Safe Space then transports them to a church in the evening to finish the intake process and give them a space to sleep for the night.

Addressing previous permitting barriers 

Before the season began, it was unclear where Safe Space would have its intake center. It had hoped to use the new building on Esplanade, but was told by the city that it would require a costly and time consuming land use application process.

In response, the group has tweaked its procedures. Now, participants come to the Esplanade office to drop off belongings and check in with staff. Then, Safe Space transports them to the church, where they do intake on site. That includes giving bedding, food and delivering showers if possible.

"We looked at our process, we feel we've modified things [to make] the language a little bit better and more clear," Crosby said. "We now fall under the code clearly that [this is] office work, that is one-on-one with clients that's happening there."

Crosby said office use of the building is allowed by right on the property, and that Safe Space has not had any pushback from the city so far.

"[We're] hoping to keep that good communication open," she said.

Once it was clear they'd be able to use the building. Crosby said Safe Space began a large volunteer training program to prepare for the season. Crosby said more than 300 volunteers help during the winter season — though they could always use more.

The next priority for the group is outreach, particularly with the new location. Crosby said Safe Space has been in contact with other homeless shelters and homeless aid organizations, so they can direct people who need it the most to stay at Safe Space.

"We didn't do as much outreach as we could have," Crosby said. "And we did move up our start date for shelter. It originally was going to start [on] the 25th. We were able to book another church to open early, which is great. So it kind of moved up our timeline a little bit."

She said volunteers have also been posting flyers around the community to spread the word.

Alec Stutson grew up in Colorado and graduated from the University of Missouri with degrees in Radio Journalism, 20th/21st Century Literature, and a minor in Film Studies. He is a huge podcast junkie, as well as a movie nerd and musician.