First anniversary celebration for Chico's Pallet Shelter

CHICO, Calif. — City officials met in Chico Thursday for the pallet shelter’s one year anniversary celebration.

Over a year ago, the pallet shelters were first introduced to the city of Chico—a community designed to provide temporary housing to the city’s homeless population. A year later, the shelters are nearly full, adding to the city’s emphasis on cleaning up local streets and getting the most vulnerable city residents the help that they need.

“I believe that what we have done here today is an example for the rest of California as many communities work to find solutions to homelessness,” said Butte County District 4 Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue.

Two-hundred-and-seven people live in the planned transitional community on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Chico.

City officials, volunteers and homeless advocates, celebrated on site the first anniversary of a project that was years in the making.

“I hope we can look back over this past year and see the improvements both to our public spaces and our waterways, but also to the quality of life we are providing to the homeless here in the community in Chico,” said Mayor Andrew Coolidge.

“We can make a lot more improvements moving forward, but I do agree that we are in a much better place today than we were a year ago,” said City Councilmember Deepika Tandon.

Amber Abney-Bass, the director of the Jesus Center, the service organization that runs the pallet shelter, said that 11 pallet shelter residents have moved on to permanent housing in the last year.

“Over the last year, on nearly a weekly basis, I fielded phone calls, connected tours, and offered insight to many neighboring communities,” Abney-Bass continued.

Every unit includes a bed, heat, air, and electricity. Some residents also share their pallet with a spouse, partner, or pet. There are 177 total pallets, and shower and laundry services are provided throughout the week.

“It’s just the beginning,” said District 1 Representative Doug LaMalfa, “because the folks that are on this trail here, we want success for them, long-term.”

Almost half of pallet shelter residents are over 45-years-old, and officials are emphasizing affordable senior housing when many residents transition to permanent settlements. Some of that housing could open up by the end of the year.

$4 million in public funds were spent this past year on the shelter as the city continues to clear homeless encampments around the city.