Giving Back – True North Housing Alliance
ENJOY Q&A with Paul Wolfe, Donations and Community Engagement Director of True North Housing Alliance
What does True North Housing Alliance do?
We offer a spectrum of services that move people forward and out of homelessness in Butte County with compassion, dignity and accountability. Those services include Street Outreach, the Torres Community Shelter, Bridge Housing, Chico State Rapid Rehousing, Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing.
What do people often misunderstand about the homeless issue?
The makeup of the population has shifted drastically over the past five to seven years. About 35 percent of our guests are senior citizens who experienced an adverse event and did not have the resources to recover and stay housed. Ninety-five percent of our guests have either a physical or mental disability, and our society has not prioritized mental health facilities, rehabs and other resources for people suffering from assorted disabilities. True North and other providers to the homeless have been struggling with this, as we are not staffed to be a care facility.
How does someone access your services?
They can come in for intake between 2 and 6 pm every day as long as they are a Butte County resident and are not a registered sex offender or felony arsonist. We are a low-barrier shelter, so outside of these two exclusions, everyone is welcome. People can call us at (530) 891-9048 with questions or visit our website at www.truenorthbutte.org.
Can you tell us about the Howard Slater Navigation Center?
A low-barrier Navigation Center is in essence is a one stop for both the chronically unhoused who need to start with shelter services for stabilization and for the precariously housed who need some resources for staying in housing or for rapid rehousing. The Howard Slater Navigation Center will also house our major partners, like Behavioral Health, Department of Employment and Social Services, health providers and organizations like the Veterans Administration. People can work with the partners on-site and immediately to start their process to permanent solutions. The center honors Howard Slater’s legacy and dedication to our community.
How many people did you help last year?
We average more than 60 people living with us on a daily basis and in 2024 we served more than 1,200 unique individuals in Butte County. We found permanent housing for nearly 200 guests in 2024.
What makes your approach to homelessness unique in Butte County?
True North operates the only low-barrier shelter in Chico that serves every demographic and operates transitional/permanent housing facilities for our guests and families. We work through their assessment plan to see where we need to focus resources. Whether the need is finding housing, helping them with financial situations, health issues or employment, we guide them through a plan to move them forward.
What kind of help do you need?
Our most pressing need is for volunteers to help serve lunch and dinner at the Torres Shelter. People who wish to volunteer can fill out the request form on our website. Financial donations are very much appreciated. We always need in-kind donations of specific items, and a list can be found on our website. Our current critical need is finishing our capital campaign for the Howard Slater Navigation Center. Please visit us at https://truenorthbutte.org/navigation-center to learn more.
What keeps your team motivated?
While the macro situation of homelessness is daunting, what keeps us motivated is serving the individual that is right in front of you. When we see a guest graduate to permanent housing or resolve a major life issue it is the best part of our job and is the fuel to keep us moving forward.
