Torres Shelter gets expansion approval
The Torres Shelter will be growing in size following approval by the city planning commission to increase occupancy from 125 beds to 195 beds.
The move comes as True North Housing Alliance which runs the Torres Shelter began construction to increase the floor space of its shelter in July.
The nonprofit has worked with local planner and designer Mike Trolinder to reconfigure the shelter’s existing building at 101 Silver Dollar Way in Chico. Input for the project came from consultant Russell Gallaway Associates Inc. and funding was secured from the city.
Torres Shelter Executive Director Joy Amaro said the expansion should be completed within the next month after the inside of the shelter was significantly gutted and updated, with space created for the additional beds.
“Back in the day when the shelter was built in 2003, the dorms were basically just huge wideopen spaces. Later in time, Chico State construction came in and built eight family rooms because we saw an increase in families like we never had in 2003,” Amaro said.
With the introduction of Aurora North, a bridge housing program for families that would have been previously served by the Torres Shelter, these families are now staying in spaces provided by the new program, Amaro said.
“We diverted the families out of the Torres Shelter and into Aurora North so that we could then increase our bed capacity by removing all of those rooms,” Amaro said. “Basically, we’re just going back to the original floor plan and then we’re able to add additional beds.”
While the expansion is nearly complete, Amaro said one more challenge is standing in the way — the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because of COVID, we can’t go to 195 right away because of social distancing,” Amaro said. “We’re going to have to see once all the work is said and done how much we can increase based on the social distancing of the beds and being in the common spaces.”
Although complete occupancy may have to wait, other updates are being made to the shelter as well including to the spaces lights, bunk beds and a new central entrance for people being admitted. Existing guests will get a gated courtyard entrance with their own storage. The current storage room will get moved and upgraded to a gender-neutral living space and more resting areas are planned.
Amaro said the main goal is to make the space more welcoming to those staying, creating additional spaces including a lounge room.
“We also gutted some of the office space so that we can create lounge areas because we really don’t have spaces for folks to just hang out besides the dining hall,” Amaro said. “It will be much more of a ‘homier feeling.’ We’re trying to do away from the institutional feeling.”
Amaro said the completed expansion is expected by the end of October.