Housing

The People of New Directions provides unhoused people with jobs cleaning up encampments. Through the employment program, they gain experience, create connections and support one another.

Winter is on its way, and so are more storms and low temperatures. Safe Space is getting ready to provide emergency shelter, but needs volunteers.

The nonprofit Safe Space had identified a potential location for its office, and to use as an intake center. After being told it would cost thousands of dollars to apply for a land-use permit, the group is weighing other options.

As residents’ finances are strained by high rent costs, some find a rent control proposition on this November’s ballot appealing and others say it’s not the answer.

The Butte County Office of Education is hosting community meetings for residents to share what they would like to see in the next Chico Unified School District superintendent. Also, the city of Chico announced they're planning to clear three homeless encampments, and Paradise town officials said the community has achieved 90% compliance with its defensible space requirements.

Two housing-related measures will be on the ballot in November, including a statewide rent control proposal that has already been rejected twice by voters.

Governor Newsom signs dozens of housing bills and announces $2.2 billion in Prop 1 funding for housing and services

The Butte County Grand Jury has released its annual report, which includes investigations into Chico's homelessness policies. It found the city responsible for neglect and unsanitary conditions at its sanctioned encampment for unhoused residents. The report also found over the past decade the city has not addressed the homelessness crisis properly and instead took an “adversarial” stance to try and encourage unhoused residents to leave the city. Separately, the jury found inadequate funding has caused morale issues among library staff and patrons.

Anderson Union School District Board President Jackie LaBarbera announced that the district would continue its current policy requiring school officials to inform parents when a student requests a change to their records, including requests to change their gender identity or sexual orientation. Also, tribal and conservation groups are advocating for national monument status for the Medicine Lake Highlands in Siskiyou County, and there are now more restrictions on fires in Lassen National Forest.

We’re continuing to cover the city of Chico’s announcement this week that it hopes to change the terms of Warren v. Chico — a settlement agreement that outlines its homelessness policy for clearing encampments. In a letter responding to the city, the law firm representing the unhoused plaintiffs in the 2021 case pushes back. Also, Councilmember Tom van Overbeek says he supports the city’s move to challenge the settlement and says Councilmember Addison Winslow is incorrect about the details. And members of Tehama County’s largest employee union have declared no confidence in the Chief Administrative Officer and Personnel Director.