CHAT to expand homeless services

CHAT is interested in buying the Silver Dollar Fairground's BMX property to help with services for the homeless population.

Tonight - a chico non-profit is looking to expand its services when it comes to housing the homeless.

We are talking about the chico housing action team other wise known as "chat"ã they sent a letter of interest to the city of chico to buy the silver dollar b-m-x property.

That propertey located on martin luther king junior parkway in chico.

We spoke with 'chat' reps and concerned neighbors - action news now reporter jafet serrato leading us off from chico.

(looklive:) for years the silver dollar bmx property has been known as an attraction for family entertainment.

But now it could soon transform into a shelter.

I asked people who live in the area what they think about the possibility and they had all kinds of reactions.

(unidentified man who lives nearby): "i think it's a good idea they got to go somewhere."

(monserrat santiago, lives nearby) "i think it's kind of a bad idea just because for the past five years we've had an increase in homelessness."

Neighbors in the mulberry neighborhood of chico have mixed reactions about chat interested in purchasing the property of the silver dollar b-m- x.

(leslie johnson from chico housing action team): "it would be a challenge to figure out exactly what we would do there.

It's not zoned for housing per say so it would be some sort of shelter project."

(nats motorcycle ride) a project that would do away with motorcycle rides and instead house the homeless.

(leslie johnson from chico housing action team): "we need to bring people in from the parks and the camping areas and at a very bare minimum get them into some situation where they have safe, clean and hygienic conditions."

Monserrat santiago lives closeby.

(monserrat santiago, lives nearby): "i definitely feel like we do need some centers for them but i feel like they shouldn't be in neighborhoods where families grow or living i think they should be in outer areas of chico."

(standup:) if plans move forward with the shelter project, chat wants to put huts within the facility.

Here's what it would look like.

(show video of huts from karens redding video) huts are being built in redding this yearã details are not set in stone from chat but they would like to see something like this.

(unidentified man who lives nearby): "i think it will help them in the long run" this man did not want to go on camera but says resources are needed to solve the city's homeless problem.

(unidentified man who lives nearby): "it's pretty hard to be stuck out here in the street especially with everything going on."

(looklive:) johnson tells me it would cost them roughly 385-thousand dollars to purchase this property here behind me.

In chico jafet serrato action news now coverage you can count on!

Organizers say they do*no* plan to put a campground there.

The b-m-x organization is still using that property.

### we