Safe Space Winter Shelter Threatened with Closure
From Left to Right: Councilmembers Deepika Tandon, Dale Bennett, Kasey Reynolds, City Manager Mark Sorenson, Local Villain Rob Berry, Councilmembers Tom van Overbeek, Andrew Coolidge and Sean Morgan
6 days before Christmas, as the rain poured down, the City of Chico issued a Cease and Desist letter to Safe Space Winter Shelter regarding their use of the old 7-11 downtown for intake.
In case you aren’t already familiar with the work done by Safe Space, they are an organization that provides low-barrier overnight shelter during the coldest nights of the year (Mid-December through Mid-March) for people living on the streets. The shelter rotates to different churches each week, and for this reason (and others) Safe Space requires a set location to do intake. People check in between 5:30 -6:30, their property is bagged and stored (thus the need for an actual building) and then they are bussed to that evenings shelter. Once at the shelter, they receive a hot meal and a cot for the night.
Safe Space has operated effectively and safely for many years, and has never been required to get a use permit to do intake. However, this year, local anti-hero Rob Berry sent a letter to the city manager and council demanding they take action to prevent Safe Space from doing intake at this location. The city responded by doing exactly that, citing zoning.
Historically, between 39 and 60 people have used Safe Space each day to stay safe on these cold nights. Without this, many vulnerable people will be left, quite literally, out in the cold.
This is a public health emergency. In the past year, a record number of homeless individuals have died on Chico streets – 27 since January. We’d say it was a curmudgeonly act, but that doesn’t begin to cover it. It is a ruthless action intended to further the misery of the poorest among us.
It has been said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
If you do not want people to continue to die on our streets because of exposure to the elements, it’s time to speak up and fight back.
Email the council and let them know you prioritize a solution that allows Safe Space to continue to use this space for intake. Demand the city do the right thing … for once.
You can quickly send an email with a few clicks here: Send an Email to the Council Use the template or edit to make it your own.
