Chico News & Review

Chico News & Review

Become a Monthly Supporter Best of Chico On Stands Now!
  • News
    • Local Government
  • Arts & Culture
    • Arts DEVO
    • Art
    • Film
    • Food
    • Music
    • Theater
  • Opinions
    • Second & Flume
    • The Goods
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Street Talk
    • Community Essays
    • Editor’s note
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Stories
    • COVID-19 Updates
  • Wildfire
    • Wildfire Updates
    • Wildfire Stories
    • Camp Fire
  • Calendar
  • More
    • Spotlight
    • Best of Chico
    • CN&R Print Archives
    • Wildfire Stories
    • Guides
    • Local Dining
    • Discover Butte County
    • Contact Us
  • Sign up for the newsletter
  • Become a supporter
  • ADVERTISING/SPONSORSHIP
  • Contact Us
Hot Topics
  • [ March 28, 2023 ] State waters down conservation goals News
  • [ March 20, 2023 ] No California salmon News
  • [ March 16, 2023 ] California storms create water paradox News
  • [ March 14, 2023 ] California considers right to vote for incarcerated News
  • [ March 8, 2023 ] Bullet train costs soar News
Spotlight

Welcome Home: CHIP puts stable housing within reach in California’s North Valley

March 2, 2023 Anne Stokes Comments Off on Welcome Home: CHIP puts stable housing within reach in California’s North Valley
CHIP apartment complex
Creekside Place in Chico, for seniors 62+, is CHIP’s newest development. PHOTO BY RAY LAAGER
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare on PinterestShare on Linkedin

Home ownership is arguably the keystone to the American dream. But whether due to finances or life circumstances, home ownership is not always a viable option for everyone. For some, the responsibility and costs of upkeep make renting a better choice. The good news is you don’t have to own the building to create a stable home.

Since 1973, the Chico-based Community Housing Improvement Program has been helping families and individuals build a path to home ownership. Through their Self Help program, thousands have literally had a hand in building their own homes. But CHIP also recognizes that housing is not one-size-fits-all.

Theresa Nantor, director
CHIP’s rental housing development

“There’s a shift and a greater awareness of the need for rental housing, I think particularly here in California,” says Theresa Nantor, director of CHIP’s rental housing development. “The cost of home ownership is steep, even if we can cut the cost of building some of it yourself. We have slightly shifted, there have been more resources poured into multi-family development and we see our portfolio growing. We anticipate it’s going to double in the next five to seven years.”

California is in the midst of a housing crisis. Not only are costs and rents soaring across the state, but housing stock in the Chico area was decimated after the Camp Fire destroyed thousands of homes in 2018. Additionally, rural communities typically offer less rental housing opportunities than urban and suburban areas. Nantor points out that in some communities, CHIP-run apartment complexes are the only apartment buildings in town.

“At CHIP, one of our missions is to develop affordable housing, apartment communities, in rural areas. That’s different than most for-profit developers. You don’t think of rural areas as somewhere you can make a lot of profit,” Nantor says. “As we look to develop more housing, we’re always looking in those rural communities where there are few opportunities for apartment living and we can offer that to families and individuals.”

As important as affordable and accessible housing is, CHIP offers even more. Tenants can take advantage of on-site vaccination clinics, food assistance, rental assistance, tutoring and summer programs and healthy living workshops.


“Anyone can develop housing, it’s whether or not you have a commitment to the community, it’s whether or not you have a commitment to the residents who live in that property.”


Theresa Nantor
Director, CHIP rental housing development

“Before the pandemic we saw the need to offer more services to our residents. We already had health services come on-site, offer food assistance, things like that. But after the pandemic, there was a much greater need. We have a resident services department that’s been there for about 20 years, (and) we’ve increased the staff,” Nantor explains. “We also as much as possible try to bring them on-site to have a physical presence at our properties as well. Most of our properties have a community room and we offer services there in addition to your regular holiday events, the things that build community.”

Studies have found that stable housing improves health outcomes, educational attainment and subsequent income earning potential. Yet despite those beneficial outcomes, affordable housing unfortunately gets a bad reputation. In contrast, CHIP actively works to ensure their apartment communities—and tenants—thrive.

“Not only are there property managers who live on-site, we have maintenance that’s there, we’ve got resident services coordinators who bring those services in and who are engaged in activities there. It’s not that we build it and leave it for someone else to manage, we build it and manage it ourselves. We’re invested in those communities,” Nantor says. “Anyone can develop housing, it’s whether or not you have a commitment to the community, it’s whether or not you have a commitment to the residents who live in that property.”

For more information, including available apartment complexes, visit CHIP online at https://chiphousing.org/ or call 1-888-912-4663.

  • Housing

Our content is free, but not free to produce

If you value our local news, arts and entertainment coverage, become an CN&R supporter with a one-time or recurring donation. Help us keep our reporters at work, bringing you the stories that need to be told.

Donate to CN&R

$36,969 of $6,000 raised
$
Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Donation Total: $10.00 Monthly

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare on PinterestShare on Linkedin

These donations are not tax deductible. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit fund, the Independent Journalism Fund, please click here.

About the Sponsor

Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)
We believe in housing that is affordable for all. CHIP is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation serving Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Sutter, Yuba and Colusa counties. We assist low-income and rural disadvantaged residents, seniors and others who lack financial resources or knowledge to improve or provide adequately for their housing. Our organization has built more than 2,600 housing units in our seven-county service area and is acknowledged as an innovator and leader in rural housing issues.

Meet the sponsors

  • Butte County Public Works
    Butte County Public Works

    published 8 articles

  • Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)
    Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)

    published 10 articles

Our Sponsors

Butte County Public Works Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)

Categories

Tags

arts Best of Chico Blue Room Theatre Butte County Butte County Public Health Butte County Supervisors California california drought Camp Fire Chico Chico arts Chico City Council Chico music Chico music scene Chico Performances Chico Police Department Chico State City Council city manager City of Chico Climate Change coronavirus Covid-19 Doug LaMalfa drought Enloe Medical Center Environment farming George Floyd Health homeless encampments Homelessness Housing letters to the editor Mark Orme Museum of Northern California Art music Pandemic PG&E police brutality Recycling redistricting Vaccine wildfire wildfires
Newsletter

Stay Updated

For the latest local news, arts and entertainment, sign up for our newsletter.
We'll tell you the story behind the story.

Sign me up!
Links
  • CN&R Archives
  • CN&R Guides
  • Best of Chico
  • Discover Butte County
  • RSS
  • Calendar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us
Become a supporter
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on YouTube
Categories
Archives

©2020 Chico News & Review