Chico Housing Action Team to use $16.5 million grant on 66-unit complex

CHICO — Plans are moving forward for a 66-unit housing complex planned in Chico, dedicated to serving homeless people with disabilities including mental illness by the housing nonprofit Chico Housing Action Team.

The nonprofit accepted a $16.5 million grant from the state’s Community Care Expansion Program, established by Assembly Bill 172 in 2021, to build the housing complex on a five-acre plot near Highway 32 with a goal to break ground by spring 2025.

CHAT Interim Director Lizzy Young said the complex is geared specifically for people with disabilities in mind, with all units measuring 350 square-feet and all ADA compliant.

An engineering drawing shows the layout of a planned 66-unit housing complex by Chico Housing Action Team, published by the nonprofit June 7, 2024. (Chico Housing Action Team/Contributed)

Residents moving to the complex will be referred by a shared database called the Homeless Management Information System, used by the Butte County Homeless Continuum of Care to identify people’s needs and place them on a priority list for housing opportunities that open up.

A draft site layout shows 11 buildings, each with six studio apartments, and 68 parking spaces, three being ADA compliant. Designs are made by lead contractor Brandon Slater of Slater & Son Construction; Pat Conroy of Construction; Kevin Easterling of Russel Galloway Associates; and Jim Stevens, formerly of North Star Engineering, according to a statement by CHAT.

Young said residents here will pay rent with income while others may rely on Section 8 housing vouchers. Each resident is also paired with a housing support coordinator who helps with social services on a case by case basis.

According to Young, the site won’t need such intense case management like its Everhart Village transitional housing complex for which it partners with Butte County Behavioral Health for mental health care.

The nonprofit simultaneously announced a $3 million “expansion campaign” to help sustain ongoing operations for Everhart Village and more than 90 housing units that it rents to formerly homeless people.

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“It’s really important to us that as we’re moving forward with this project and building for the future that we’re still able to support our residents and maintain our priorities in the meanwhile,” Young said.

Young said the nonprofit has a remainder of about $600,000 to match its state grant, and is seeking community support to help the nonprofit as staff will be directed toward working on the project.

“It is going to be really impacting our infrastructure and our staff, and require a lot of additional support for our employees,” Young said. “At the same time, we’re planning for unforeseen things that may come up along the way,” including unexpected cost increases.

Everhart Village

Fifteen of 20 cabins are now filled at Everhart Village, and its community building is now in operation, according to Young.

Young said Everhart Village will soon have its first person move out into permanent housing.

“Things are going well; it’s nice to see Everhart Village lived in, and everybody’s finding their rhythm and routine.”