Residents to begin moving into 20 cabin Everhart Village

CHICO — After several delays, a unique housing resource in Chico is finally opening doors to move in its first six residents beginning today for people whose shelter stays are not successful because of mental health challenges.

Chico Housing Action Team Director Nicole Drummond said Thursday the nonprofit received the necessary permit to begin operations at its Everhart Village project, a 20-cabin collaboration with Butte County Behavioral Health to house behavioral health clients at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

Many who will stay at Everhart Village are selected on priority because of their vulnerability to chronic homelessness; they struggle accessing their appointments to get well both physically and mentally, and often aren’t successful at traditional shelters because of their behavior.

Of the first six, two people have physical disabilities and one person is currently sleeping outside, Drummond said.

“It’s a lot of individuals who haven’t been successful in other sheltering opportunities because of their mental health challenges, or accessing services to stabilize in general because of their mental health,” Drummond said.

The project held a dedication Dec. 15, but a list of building issues found with the project’s community building, according to Drummond, caused another delay — among many since its initial expected opening in spring 2022.

Drummond said the community building was not considered appropriate by the county or the state, and that the nonprofit was told it could not use it for its intended purpose, including its showers.

Instead of opening the building, the project is moving forward with a temporary occupancy permit received by the nonprofit Thursday, as it irons out issues according to Drummond.

In lieu of using the community building for showers, a shower trailer with the Haven of Hope on Wheels program by the Southside Oroville Community Improvement Center will be used temporarily.

Drummond said the nonprofit is seeking volunteer groups to cook meals for up to 20 people once a month for one year, and other volunteer opportunities will be available in the future.

The campus will be staffed 24 hours a day and is located within a five minute walk of health services like Ampla Health, DaVita Dialysis, dentists offices and the Butte County Behavioral Health Department.

Chico Housing Action Team holds a license for the property for 20 years; the program is currently funded to be staffed for about one year and the nonprofit is seeking other opportunities to keep the program sustainable, Drummond said.