Basic services needed

Unhoused folks are now moving into the Pallet shelters and people who don’t meet the requirements to stay there or at the Torres Shelter are receiving notices to relocate. My understanding is they will need to go to one of the three areas approved by the city for people to camp. These two shelters cannot possibly accommodate the numbers of unhoused people in our city, far beyond those who do not meet the requirements. By default, then, those remaining will be required to move to one of those designated areas.

I am concerned that the lawsuit settlement does not require a provision of services for those camping areas. In spite of not being required to do so, with the large numbers of people who will need to camp in those spaces, it seems imperative that the city provide some basic services: at minimum, drinking and wash water, adequate dumpsters, porta-potties, and some social service oversight.

It is terribly unfortunate that the vision of Safe Space to open a year-round, 24/7 lowbarrier shelter was squelched when it was so close to becoming a reality years ago. Such a shelter is desperately needed, as well as sanctioned low-barrier campgrounds with wraparound services. Looking forward, along with increased low-income housing, these options should be included in long range planning to address the challenge of homelessness in our town. In addition to this being the humane approach for those without a roof, these provisions will greatly improve quality of life for all Chicoans.

— Emily Alma, Chico