We never stop creating affordable housing options for folks in Chico.
Greetings, to our wonderful supporters!
Front-page alert! CHAT's decade anniversary is big news around these parts, so we were ecstatic to see this milestone shared with the wider community in a recent issue of the Chico Enterprise-Record. Speaking of which, our Housing for All celebration is just over a week away (Saturday, Nov. 4!). Hopefully you bought your tickets if you want to join us at the dinner because we are SOLD OUT! Live-music afterparty tickets still available on a limited basis. No black ties are necessary! After all, this is a fundraiser for local housing—come dressed however you're comfortable! We cannot wait to celebrate a decade of progress in our community and look toward the next decade. CHAT has also received thousands of dollars in electric zero emission lawn equipment, moving us closer to our sustainability goals. In other news, we have an update on Everhart Village that includes our friends at the Butte Environmental Council. Plus, we're bidding farewell to a very special board member, who has been instrumental to CHAT for many years. We're also saying goodbye to our amazing volunteer coordinator. One last thing! We have a big announcement about another upcoming event. Here's a hint: Pageant Theater. Read on to find out about these things—and more!
-Nicole
Lead story!
CHAT's Sheldon Praiser and Bob Trausch at Everhart Village (Photo By Evan Tuchinsky/Chico E-R)
In case you missed it: The Chico Enterprise-Record's Evan Tuchinsky wrote a great piece about the history of CHAT leading up to our decade anniversary. In the article, board Vice President Bob Trausch and Treasurer Sheldon Praiser reflect on CHAT's origins in the fall of 2013, during which the two, along with CHAT's other co-founders, set up an emergency congregate shelter to help the local homeless population get through a particularly harsh cold snap.
That led to the formation of the Safe Space Winter Shelter and then, as discussions continued, to CHAT's first rental property ... and beyond. Check out the story to learn how CHAT has grown from an all-volunteer grassroots effort to a nonprofit that today houses roughly 200 individuals and employs 30 people, who, among other things, provide the wraparound services necessary to house formerly homeless community members.
Also in the news, Chico Housing Action Team receives over $15,000 in electric lawn equipment for low-income residents through Butte County trade in program. KRCR
Party countdown: 8 days!
We can't wait to see you Saturday, Nov. 4, is the big day. We are SOLD OUT and looking forward to celebrating with everyone. If you have bought a ticket or a table, we will send out your table number and specifics about the event. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket or a table for yourself or for others, it will be a wonderful evening.
It's going to be a memorable occasion with food and merriment, including live music, but it's also a fundraiser for our housing programs. So please join us for a wonderful evening supporting a great cause—helping our community address homelessness through stable housing. No need for evening gowns or black ties—just come as you are and have a blast!
The details: CHAT's Housing for All celebration will be held at the beautiful Lakeside Pavilion (2565 California Park Dr.) in Chico. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4. Attendees will enjoy delicious food (catered three-course dinner), live music, and activities such as a raffle!
For those who want to join the celebration, but aren't interested in the dinner, you're welcome to attend the afterparty! Tickets are just $15, and you'll get to rock out with the Jeff Pershing Band. Bring your dancing shoes!
Big thanks to our anniversary celebration sponsors: Slater & Son construction and the Center for Spiritual Living and Umpqua Bank!
Thank you for the generous beverage donations from Chico Natural Foods, Titos Vodka, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Roll film!
Big announcement: Save the date! On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the Pageant Theater will premiere a documentary about CHAT and our first decade of providing homeless people in Chico with affordable, sustainable housing. This first showing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Additional details to follow, so stay tuned!
BEC and the village
Great news alert: Everhart Village is one step closer to opening day, thanks to our friends at the Butte Environmental Council. On Community Climate Action Day (Oct. 21), more than a dozen volunteers visited Everhart Village to plant young shade trees, as well as a few fruit trees.
BEC organized the event, along with several others around Chico, and we're so grateful for the help. Planting trees promotes "urban greening," which helps mitigate the effects of climate change. It also beautifies the landscape! The trees are a wonderful addition to Everhart Village, and, when mature, will provide much-needed shade for our residents.
More good news: We expect the concrete for pathways and the asphalt for the road and parking lot to be poured within the next few weeks. This is one of the last infrastructure hurdles left at Everhart Village!
Up next: Getting the cabins move-in ready. We're looking for donations of personal hygiene products for welcome baskets, as well as donations of items that will make the cabins feel homey. We're also looking for individuals or groups interested in making meals for future residents; people interested in facilitating skills-building groups, or other types of enrichmentopportunities; and volunteers to monitor the front gate. To learn more, contact CHAT Assistant Director of Social Services CaitlynPatterson at caitlyn@chicohousingactionteam.net.
Farewell, dear friend
Goodbye and thanks: We want to give a huge, massive, gigantic shout out to the amazing Charles Withuhn for his many years of dedicated service to CHAT. Charles has worked alongside CHAT co-founders Bob Trausch and Leslie Johnson since 2016, starting with a generous donation.
Charles is departing CHAT's board of directors to devote his efforts full time to the North State Shelter Team, and we cannot say enough about the impact he's made over the years.
Charles has been a tireless advocate for CHAT's work creating affordable housing and has spent countless hours volunteering, including at the aforementioned BEC tree-planting.
If you see Charles around town, which is likely considering his ongoing dedication to the homeless community, please thank him for everything he's done with CHAT to help house local unhoused individuals.
Working together
Nicole Drummond (left) and Jesus Center Executive Director Amber Abney-Bass.
CHAT Executive Director Nicole Drummond left the Regional Homeless Planning Symposium feeling heartened by all the collaboration among the many local nonprofit service providers and government agencies dedicated to addressing homelessness in Butte County.
"I'm inspired to do this challenging and rewarding work," she said, giving a special shout out to the local Continuum of Care for leading the event.
Trunk or Treat
Reminder: Don't forget that tonight (Friday, Oct. 27) is CHAT's Fall Festival Trunk or Treat event for children, including those in our programs. If you'd like to bring your little ones by—for face-painting, games and candy—head to CHAT's headquarters at 125 Mission Ranch Blvd. The festivities start at 5 p.m. We can't wait to see your kiddos' costumes!
Other events
It's almost time for True North Housing Alliance's Empty Bowls! Next Thursday, Nov. 2, is the big day. True North operates the Torres Community Shelter—Chico's only year-round congregate shelter—and this is the organization's biggest fundraiser of the year. Participants get to pick their very own handcrafted pottery bowl made by a Chico Unified student or a Torres Shelter guest. They'll also get a delicious soup and bread dinner. Empty Bowls takes place at Chico High School, and there are two dinner seatings available. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit truenorthbutte.org.
Looking for a daytime event leading up to CHAT's Housing for All celebration? Support another great cause on Saturday (Nov. 4) by signing up for the Second Annual Gratitude Walk. Proceeds from the event benefit local nonprofits—the North Valley Community Foundation, Friends of Bidwell Park, and the Chico Area Interfaith Council—so participating means you can "Feel Good" and Fuel Good" at the same time. It starts at 9 a.m. at Bidwell Park. To learn more and to register, visit www.thegratitudewalk.com.
Finance 101
CHAT Director of Finance and Development Sarah Graham (far right) and Umpqua representatives.
Much thanks to our friends at Umpqua Bank for partnering with us on a series of financial management workshops for CHAT residents!
The first in the weekly series kicked off on Wednesday (Oct. 25)—with the focus on setting smart financial goals. Additional workshops will address such topics as credit and debt, income and taxes, and the threat of identity theft.
CHAT is grateful for community partners, such as Umpqua, who are aligned with our mission! This includes helping CHAT residents gain the real-world skills needed to build credit, which is crucial because a poor score is a major barrier to accessing housing. Indeed, financial knowledge and skills are such an important piece of the affordable-housing puzzle.
Thanks, Hannah!
CHAT's Hannah Booth (left) welcomes new Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Zangrilli.
This week, we said farewell to CHAT's Volunteer Coordinator (and awesome human) Hannah Booth.
Said CHAT Executive Director Nicole Drummond: "We're so grateful for all she has done to organize and support our volunteers and contribute overall to the organization. Hannah will be missed."
Meanwhile, Hannah and the rest of the CHAT team welcomed Samantha Zangrilli to the organization. Continued Nicole: "We're excited to have such a committed supporter join the team to support our recruitment and support our volunteers. Volunteers are integral to CHAT in every way."
As always, thank you for reading our email news, and thank you for supporting local, affordable housing!
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