Safe Space Chico winter operations to continue; city staff to present encampment options as Warren v. Chico settlement winds down

Steve Sismowski updated the Local Government Committee on Safe Space Chico’s winter operations, saying the program will continue for the next three weeks and currently has about 60 people in case management. He said operations “rely on church hosts and a mix of paid staff and about 400 volunteers,” and that Safe Space lost its director last year and is planning to recruit a new director.

City Manager Mark Sorensen told the committee there were no substantive changes since the previous update and that the encampment site continues to be run by the Jesus Center, which is handling outreach. Sorensen said the Warren v. Chico settlement agreement is scheduled to end in January 2027 and that staff will bring options on the site and related encampment policies to the City Council in the next four to six weeks.

The update outlined operational capacity and near‑term staffing plans rather than new policy decisions. The committee did not take formal action on the encampment at the meeting; rather, members heard operational details and were told a set of options will be developed for Council consideration. Committee members did not provide additional direction on funding or site management at this meeting.

Next steps: staff will compile options for City Council review in approximately four to six weeks; the settlement timeline (January 2027) and Safe Space’s recruitment of a new director were identified as milestones that could affect future decisions.