Category: Housing & homelessness

Two days in review: Protesting in Chico as Sacramento churns

by Sunny | Posted January 22, 2026

In this week’s podcast, Sunny looks at what the changes underway in state funding for homelessness mean, as well as the Jan. 20 Chico Free America Pop-up Protest.

“Personally, I think it’s important for people to come to protests to feel like they’re not alone in these scary times,” Michael Brennock from Chico Indivisible tells ChicoSol. “Together we can make our communities and our country a better place.”

Butte Defense Equity Project will hold a Know Your Rights & Risks training for protesters at 5 p.m. Jan. 25. More information and an RSVP link is here. read more

California counties must jump through new hoops to get homelessness funds

by Marisa Kendall and Ben Christopher, CalMatters | Posted January 19, 2026
Tents occupied by unhoused people outside city hall. Photo courtesy of Karen Laslo

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened many times to withhold state homelessness funds from cities and counties that aren’t doing enough to get people off the streets. 

This year, these threats seem more real than ever.

Newsom’s administration and the Legislature are adding new strings to that money, which they hope will help address one of the state’s most obvious policy failures: Despite California’s large recent investments in homelessness, encampments are still rampant on city streets. But cities and counties already are chafing under the tightening requirements, which they worry will make it harder to access crucial state funds without directly improving conditions on the street. read more

Nineteen lives lost are honored

Homeless Persons' Memorial Day event in Chico honors those who died
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 21, 2025
Grace Aita misses her friend Elijah, who passed away June 9 at the Genesis pallet shelter. Photo by Karen Laslo.

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. read more

City explains process for tiny homes on church parking lots

Email to ChicoSol from Brendan Vieg
by Brendan Vieg | Posted December 14, 2025

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.  read more

Where to put the tiny homes for four elderly women?

Search still on for a willing church partner
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 9, 2025
Withuhn and other community members built the tiny homes that are ready for placement. Photo courtesy of Charles Withuhn.

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.” read more