CHICO, Calif. – Outreach and Engagement and police target teams went through several Chico homeless encampments doing assessments and helping people who want to move to the pallet shelter site, move out.
They can only ask people to move out and help them with this process right now. They will continue to meet with the homeless at encampments around the city every day.
Some are excited to get the opportunity to move in and get their feet back underneath them.
“Yeah, it’s an improvement. People need a place to get a shower and sleep, instead of being out here,” said Kandy Lindo who wants to move into the pallet shelters.
As for the rules, there’s still going to be a dispute hearing on Thursday about five of the rules for the pallet shelter site. People moving in before the hearing, still have to follow those rules right now.
The city can’t force anyone out of public areas though until those five rules are agreed on.
“They’ll be applying to the rules that the city has outlined already. Whether we change those in the future depending on the negotiation is something that we obviously have to talk about that,” said Chico Mayor Andrew Coolidge. “Again, I think those are reasonable rules and they’re rules that just provide for the safety of those out here.”
The outreach teams spent Monday talking to homeless about their situations.
“We have an electronic system, so once each of those assessments is complete, we get an alert, set-up a check-in packet and prepare for them to be transported and arrive,” said Jesus Center Executive Director Amber Abney-Bass. “We have quite a number of folks who are already in the process of coming in this morning.”
Pallet shelter site staff cleaned and prepared the shelters for people to move in. Haven of Hope on Wheels is also already at the site.
“We will be here five-days-a-week Monday through Friday. Every day we will be providing showers. On Tuesday and Thursday we will be providing laundry services,” said Haven of Hope on Wheels Leanne Beck.
Many think this is a great chance for those to transition out of homelessness.
“Well, I think it gives people the opportunity to move forward. They could get their shower, get clean clothes, perhaps go to an interview,” said Beck. “Try to get themselves back, their feet on the ground again. This is a stepping stone for them.”
Some are just excited for the opportunity to get off the streets.
“Move up, instead of just moving from location to location to location to location. It’s something, structure. Alarm clocks are nice. Knowing what day, it is. Hopefully getting a job and being a productive member of society again,” said Michelle Payne who is moving to the pallet shelter site.
About seven people from the homeless camp by city hall are now at the pallet shelter. The city says it has around 50 already cleared and wanting to move in on top of that.
