Chico's ad hoc committee on homelessness recently met for the third time. The committee has continued to hear presentations from organizations that engage with Chico's unhoused population. The latest meeting focussed on the role of police and criminal justice.
Chico police officers spoke about the process of notifying and reaching out to unsheltered people ahead of their camps being removed. They raised questions that have come up at previous committee meetings: how should the city approach unsheltered residents who turn down assistance?
"We are kind of getting down to the more service resistant folks," said Sergeant David Bailey, a member of the Target Team. "There is a significant hurdle for sheltering options when somebody's in the throes of addiction or severe mental illness."
Butte County’s Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Amy Asher, also gave a presentation about Drug Court, which is a program that can reduce penalties for individuals who commit to rehabilitation. She said it's important that the program celebrates the success of its participants.
"A lot of times, when people go to court, it's for something very negative," Asher said. "Now they get to show up and everybody's clapping for them and giving them a lot of positive feedback, so we really celebrate what they do right."
Chico residents also attended the meeting, asked questions of the presenters, and offered their own perspective on homelessness and criminal justice.
"It seems that they are lacking in discussion of what's really the root causes [of homelessness]. Which I consider to be not just substance abuse and mental illness, but income inequality and housing affordability."- Lynn Gonzalez, Chcio resident & activist
"I commend you," Chico resident and activist Lynn Gonzalez said to Asher during the meeting. "My brother's life was saved through Drug Court in San Diego."
While Gonzalez is a fan of the Drug Court system, she also had criticisms of the committee's meetings so far.
"It seems that they are lacking in discussion of what's really the root causes [of homelessness]," she said. "Which I consider to be not just substance abuse and mental illness, but income inequality and housing affordability."
Residents also criticized the committee for focusing too heavily on what’s already being done in Chico, rather than exploring new solutions. Mayor Kasey Reynolds pushed back, saying the committee needs a full understanding of the current system before recommending new initiatives.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 11. It will focus on the city’s codes and policies, and the city’s role in the broader system of homeless aid.
