Oroville declares shelter crisis

Jumping ahead of other Butte County municipalities—including Chico—the Oroville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night (Sept. 4) to declare a shelter crisis.

The declaration gives Oroville organizations access to the Butte Countywide Continuum of Care’s potential $4.9 million share of state funds allocated to address homelessness. Vice Mayor Janet Goodson (pictured) told the CN&R by phone that funding will boost existing and “grassroots” programs, calling it “a golden opportunity to which we could not turn a blind eye or a deaf ear.”

The vote was 5-0, with Mayor Linda Dahlmeier and Councilman Scott Thomson absent.

The Chico City Council will take up the issue at its next meeting, Sept. 18.