Torres Shelter to expand by August

CHICO >> The True North Housing Alliance announced Wednesday shelter capacity at the Torres Community Shelter in Chico will be expanded in a comprehensive project.

After the project’s first phase is complete, the shelter will permanently be able to serve 50 more guests, and when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, could serve 210 individuals experiencing homelessness, according to a press release from the alliance.

The nonprofit worked with local planner and designer Mike Trolinder to reconfigure the shelter’s existing building at 101 Silver Dollar Way in Chico. With consultant Russell Gallaway Associates Inc., and funding secured from the city, the project was given the green light.

The shelter could use the capacity to serve more members of the population such as the LGBTQ community and individuals and seniors with physical disabilities and mobility challenges. Part of the shelter reconfiguration includes single bed offerings for those with accessibility needs and a gender-neutral dormitory and gender-neutral shower and restroom space.

In addition, the nonprofit hopes the shelter can receive a much-needed redesign for 24-hour use.

In a second phase, the True North Housing Alliance hopes to add 2,000 square feet to the north end of the current Torres Community Shelter building to allow for a Navigation Center, a central location for intake for new guests, housing services, inter-agency partnerships and administrative space for case management services. Another phase afterward is hoped to create a two-story building on the west side of the property, creating a 14 single-resident occupancy transitional housing program for participants in vocational programs. This phase also includes a dedicated donation and client property storage space and an outdoor pet area.

For Phase 1, “Work begins next month and will be completed by August,” Amaro said Wednesday. “We don’t have funding for (phases) 2 and 3 yet.”