After tens of thousands fled the Ridge from the Camp Fire more than three months ago, nearby Chico now feels like it’s is bursting at the seams. There’s more of pretty much everything – more people, more lines, more traffic. Except for housing. There is virtually no housing.
Lack housing was already a huge problem in Chico before the fire happened. Pre-Camp Fire rental vacancy was in the 1 to 2 percent range.
Last week a “State of the City and Business Summit” was held in the city that pointed to this deficiency in housing as being key in predicting Chico’s future. NSPR’s Marc Albert spoke to Chico Mayor Randall Stone who had spoken at the summit about Chico’s serious housing issue and what the city is doing to try to help solve it.