Safe Space Winter Shelter, a long-established organization offering services and sheltering to those suffering from homelessness, proposes to operate the Orange Street Shelter.
In November 2018, the WalMart Foundation, after assessing the needs in Chico in the wake of the Camp Fire, extended a $1 million grant designate for the creation of a low-barrier shelter. Immediately the search became active for a location to shelter and provide day services for folks who are experiencing homelessness. In the midst of our planning, we agreed to release a portion of the funds to facilitate the Torres Community Shelter’s transition to 24/7.
After vetting several locations to mitigate impact on the community and best serve the desired clientele, we have executed a letter of intent with the owner of 388 Orange Street, a 15,000 square feet building suitable for these purposes with minimal tenant improvements and adjustments. The proposed open date is August 15, 2019.
Safe Space will seek opportunities to collaborate with other service providers and local agencies. Other Orange Street Shelter partners include Butte/Glenn 211 and Butte County Department of Behavioral Health. We are also working to include Elijah House (expanding services into Chico), Butte County Employment and Social Services, and the Torres Community Shelter. Those who will be engaged in services will require multiple interventions for mental health, substance use disorders, trauma, housing, education, job readiness. Having a single place where they will be sheltered and offered day services helps our partners rally to give more appropriate aid.
Addressing System Gaps
Chico does not have enough shelter beds to allow people experiencing homelessness to sleep inside and receive necessary services in a safe, stable environment. The resulting impact in camping, refuse, unsafe lodging, and public safety concerns is reaching new heights post Camp Fire. Adding 100-120 additional beds will complement the work of other shelters. Although best practices encourage a rapid exit to permanent housing, Butte County’s current housing situation will not accommodate the needs of Camp Fire survivors and those struggling from homelessness from other causes. Shelter is our best chance to seek stabilization and ready the most vulnerable to obtain and retain adequate housing, in some cases out of our area.
Low-barrier shelters accept people as they are and provide a safe, warm place of shelter for those who may have no other option. There are no requirements for sobriety nor testing for substance use. Instead, they focus on addressing disruptive or dangerous behaviors, rather than compliance to rules. They create flexible and predictable access for people seeking shelter, and the intake process and housing navigation services coordinate closely with community-based outreach services and coordinated entry to move people into housing. Research demonstrates that communities that embrace a low-barrier shelter approach with accountability measures make great strides in moving those who are with a home from the streets to housing. This is accomplished by providing individual case management and wrap-around services to address the fundamental causes of each person’s homelessness.
What Does Low-Barrier Shelter Look Like?
Low-barrier does not mean no rules or expectations. As in other shelters of this type, The Orange Street Shelter will manage expectations with an explicit Code of Conduct. Expectations are centered around promoting safety. Behaviors dictate the success of an individual’s time at the shelter, rather than sobriety levels or other barriers. The Code of Conduct will include expectations such as:
• No violence or threats of violence, or damaging property
• Respect for others
• Respect for the neighborhood
• No use or possession of controlled substances and/or alcohol on-site in or within our
neighborhood
• Personal property must be checked-in and stored upon arrival
A violation of this Code of Conduct could result in a behavior contract and/or interrupted services at the Orange Street Shelter.
Services Offered
Day services at Orange Street Shelter will provide a resource lab with computers to support employment, education and housing searches and with resource Staff to navigate needs and referral sources for one on one services including a warm hand-off. An outreach desk will bring outside agencies in such as Butte County Social Services, Behavioral Health, Payee Services, Veteran’s Services. Residents will have access to housing and employment listings, mail and messaging services, case management, life skills classes, vocational training/service work opportunities, and substance use services including counseling and therapeutic groups.
The Orange Street Shelter will provide safe shelter, evening and morning meals, and separate sleeping quarters for specialized populations (e.g., single women and families)
To help secure the neighborhood, the shelter will have 24/7 hotline and a safety team on site. Quite often, we will be able to send someone out to assess the situation and ascertain whether our services are appropriate for the person in question. In addition, we will work closely with local law-enforcement to ensure that the impacts to the neighborhood are minimized – this process has already begun. We will also work closely with Chico State University to ensure that students understand our processes and are kept safe.
We are excited about this opportunity to improve the lives of our clients, but also to improve conditions throughout our community, and hope you will join us in supporting this effort.
