Housing site progress continues

‘This site itself ... is ready to accept folks,’ Jesus Center director says

CHICO >> In the role of interim city manager, Matt Madden will take over former city manager Mark Orme’s responsibilities for the Emergency Non-Congregate Housing site located at the former BMX Park.

The housing site, which began construction just after the Warren v. Chico settlement in January, is set to house the local homeless population with 177 shelters manufactured by Pallet.

While the City Manager’s Office said the team is still transitioning responsibilities to Madden and were not available Thursday for comments, Amber Abney-Bass, director of the Jesus Center, offered an update on the progress of Chico’s housing site.

“This site itself, for the majority, is ready to accept folks. We’ve had a couple of hiring events and, as much as we can in honoring the confidentiality requirement that the judge has us all under, been able to describe to potential employees what would go on at the site, offered them a site tour.” Abney-Bass said. “Some of the real specifics (details) we’re not at real liberty to share (with candidates) because we don’t even have them yet.”

With Madden stepping in as interim city manager, Abney-Bass said that she expects no delays in the housing site as Madden transitions from police chief to interim city manager.

“In terms of continuity on this project, I would just share that Madden represented the city from the (Chico) Police Department’s perspective. As chief of police, Matt was involved in those conversations,” Abney-Bass said. “He’s 100 percent up to speed.”

Abney-Bass praised Orme’s former team at city hall for being responsive to the project.

“The group that I have had the opportunity to work with, as we have been designing and responding to this project, is a very strong