Border-crossing journalism from the Sacramento Valley
Some 19 people who died on Chico streets or in shelters in 2025 were honored Dec. 21 at the city’s fifth Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day event.
On a rainy, windy, winter solstice afternoon, about 20 people gathered at the Our Hands sculpture to honor the Chico-area residents who have died – often in public spaces — and appear to have all been unhoused.
The event was organized by Chico CA Shelter for All and the North State Shelter Team.
ChicoSol asked City Community Development Director Brendan Vieg to explain the process that is required for the placement of tiny homes on church parking lots. The following is Vieg’s Dec. 11 response to our story and request.
Council did not “approve” NSST’s tiny home project for church parking lots as stated in your article. Instead, Council voted to support the idea in general and directed that NSST bring forward an application and that staff do everything they can, within reason, to support a successful public process and outcome.
The tiny home project that would house four elderly women on a church parking lot faces new challenges, including the loss of the church that, it was hoped, would provide space.
City Light Church had expressed interest in supporting the project by allowing the placement of four tiny homes on its parking lot, said Charles Withuhn, president of the North State Shelter Team (NSST) that has lobbied for the program.
But the church’s Rev. Steve Cox has indicated to NSST there are “risks we can’t move past.”
The Chico City Council, on a split 4–3 vote, on Nov. 18 approved an ordinance that prohibits people from lingering on medians, roundabouts and in areas near retail-use driveways.
Under the new ordinance, people would be prohibited from lingering on any portion of a median or roundabout adjoining a public roadway, as well as “right‑of‑way zones serving access points of public shopping centers that connect directly to a public roadway.”
Exceptions include crossing, lawful walking, permitted work and emergencies.
The Chico City Council voted Oct. 21 to increase visits by Jesus Center staff to the Alternative Camping Site from twice a week to seven days a week, and to have Armed Guard Private Security patrol not only the site, but also the nearby neighborhood.
The plan will be implemented for two months at the north Chico homeless encampment, after which time City staff will return to the Council with an assessment.
Meanwhile, the City will incorporate several new rules into the site’s code of conduct, require that residents who are now eligible for the Genesis pallet shelter relocate there, and provide pallet pads to help raise existing tents off the ground.
