Real housing. Real solutions. Real pathways forward.
Our mission is to provide affordable, permanent housing for people without housing, and provide the supportive services needed to enable residents to maintain long term housing stability.
Housing First
We believe stability starts with housing. Without a safe place to live, everything else becomes harder to rebuild.
Practical Solutions
Our work is grounded in real-world approaches that address barriers and create clear, achievable paths forward.
Built on Accountability
We meet people where they are while creating structure and support that leads to long-term stability.
Community Impact
Stronger individuals create stronger communities. This work benefits not just those we serve, but the region as a whole.
Who We Are
Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT) is a dedicated local nonprofit committed to making sure everyone in our community has a safe and stable place to call home.
Many of the people we serve are employed or have a steady income, yet they still face barriers to securing housing. Challenges like past evictions, limited credit history, or simply being priced out by high rents often stand in the way.
That’s where we come in.
Through affordable rentals and hands-on support, we help people move out of instability and into housing they can actually keep. We’re not just trying to get someone housed, we’re trying to make sure they stay off the street.
Today, CHAT serves people of all backgrounds: seniors, veterans, families, wildfire survivors, and individuals living with disabilities or mental health challenges. Our work is powered by dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, and caring community members who share one belief: safe housing transforms lives.
"They don't just talk about solving homelessness, they put plans into action."
- Adam, CHAT Resident
How Stability Happens
%
Of Homeless Individuals Have Been So For More Than A Year
%
are dealing with chronic health conditions
%
are survivors of domestic abuse or violence
Our History
CHAT began in 2013, when a small group of local residents came together to address Chico’s growing homelessness. What began as a conversation soon turned into action.
That winter, volunteers opened the first Safe Space winter shelter, offering warmth and safety during the coldest months of the year. The experience revealed an important truth: emergency shelter was only the starting point. Our community needed lasting housing solutions.
CHAT started experimenting with creative new approaches. One of the earliest was the master-lease program, which allowed us to rent homes directly and place tenants who might otherwise struggle to qualify in the traditional rental market. This model helped residents regain their footing while receiving the support needed to remain housed.
As the need in Chico grew, so did CHAT.
Over the past decade, CHAT has evolved from a grassroots volunteer effort into a full-service housing organization. Our programs now include permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, specialized shelter services, and a range of supports that help residents maintain long-term housing stability.
Major initiatives like Everhart Village—which provides structured shelter and behavioral health support for individuals living with serious mental health challenges—and Builders Village, an affordable housing development for seniors and people with disabilities, reflect our deep commitment to long-term solutions.
Despite our growth, CHAT’s core philosophy remains unchanged: housing stability is the foundation for rebuilding lives and strengthening the entire community.
Our Team
The work of CHAT is carried out by a dedicated group of staff, board members, and advisors who share a commitment to housing solutions in our community.
Our team includes professionals with expertise in housing development, social services, behavioral health coordination, property management, and nonprofit leadership. Together, they work to ensure that CHAT’s housing programs operate with accountability, compassion, and effectiveness.
The organization is guided by a Board of Directors and supported by an Advisory Council made up of respected community leaders who provide strategic insight and community perspective.
This collaborative leadership structure allows CHAT to remain rooted in community needs while continuing to grow its impact across Butte County.
Our Partners
CHAT’s work thrives because of strong partnerships throughout our community.
Addressing homelessness demands coordination across many sectors. CHAT collaborates closely with local government agencies, healthcare and behavioral health providers, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community groups to offer residents the comprehensive support they need to maintain housing stability.
These partnerships allow us to connect residents with vital services: mental health care, healthcare navigation, employment support, and access to community resources.
Local businesses, foundations, and individual donors are also essential in sustaining our mission. Their support empowers CHAT to continue developing housing solutions that meet the evolving needs of our community now and for years to come.
Ending homelessness is not the work of one organization alone; it takes a community working together.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Don Taylor
Board President
Don has lived in Butte County for more than 37 years and spent 28 years serving the community through a variety of social service roles with the County of Butte. He has been actively involved in local and state efforts focused on mental health, housing, and homelessness, including work with the Butte Homeless Continuum of Care and teaching Crisis Intervention Training at Butte College. He holds degrees from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and California State University, Chico, and believes strong communities are built through service and involvement. He supports Chico Housing Action Team because he believes safe, stable, and affordable housing should be part of everyone’s path to wellness.
Sheryl Campbell-Bennett
Board Secretary
Sheryl brings a background in Industrial Technology along with extensive experience in construction project management, design, organizational management, and document control. She uses her technical and governance expertise to help teams and organizations operate with integrity, accountability, and robust systems. She supports Chico Housing Action Team because of its commitment to meeting people where they are, providing affordable housing and supportive services, and helping individuals take meaningful steps toward stability and independence.
Julie Quinn
Board Treasurer
Lupita Arim-Law
Board Member
Lupita relocated to Chico more than 26 years ago to build her career and raise her family. Over the years, she has served in a variety of community leadership roles, including serving on affinity groups, boards of directors, and the California State University, Chico, and the City of Chico Planning Commission. She is a community organizer with experience managing diverse stakeholder groups for campaigns and community initiatives, and she holds degrees in political science and public administration from Chico State. She supports Chico Housing Action Team because she believes stable housing creates a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant community for everyone.
Joaquin Jordan
Board Member
Joaquin Jordan is a nationally recognized restorative justice practitioner, community advocate, and youth development leader with more than 20 years of experience in criminal justice reform, behavioral health, substance use prevention, and community empowerment. As a statewide leader with Continuity Consulting, he has developed innovative programs across California that promote healing, accountability, resilience, and positive outcomes for youth and adults. He brings expertise in community engagement and cross-sector collaboration, working with public agencies, schools, housing organizations, and nonprofit partners to strengthen communities. He supports Chico Housing Action Team because he believes stable housing creates the foundation for lasting change and stronger communities.
Jennifer Ellingson
Board Member
Jennifer serves on the board as a director and is an attorney with Ellingson Law. In her practice, she helps people plan, protect, and move through difficult transitions with dignity. She is drawn to practical service that helps people feel safe, supported, and connected in Chico. That is what makes her work with Chico Housing Action Team so meaningful, turning concern into action through housing, support, and pathways to stability.
Ann Schwab
Board Member
Ann has been an active member of the Chico community for over 50 years. A graduate of Chico State, Ann has a strong commitment to civic engagement and practices it in her personal and public life. Ann recently retired as the director of Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE), mentoring college students as they served local non-profit organizations focusing on children, older adults, special populations, and programs benefiting animals and the environment. Ann was elected to the Chico City council and served four terms, including three terms as mayor. After years of seeing the barriers government agencies are challenged with when trying to find solutions for housing persons, Ann has long been supportive of CHAT’s effectiveness and ability to meet people where they are on their journeys to stability and housing. Ann brings her public service experience and community connections to CHAT as we support individuals on their pathways out of homelessness and into more stable lives.
