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CHICO — The North Valley Community Foundation granted True North Housing Alliance $31,858 to purchase isolation tents for ill guests at the Torres Community Shelter.

True North Housing Alliance Executive Director Taylor Storey said the grant will help the Torres Shelter resume regular operations.

“We needed a really quick turnaround because we still have our isolation area in the shelter and we need to get back to normal operations as quickly as possible for folks in need in the community,” Storey said.

Storey said True North Housing Alliance will use the funds to purchase 20 insulated ice fishing tents to properly isolate Torres Shelter guests with COVID or another illness while keeping them warm. The funds will also be used to purchase a portable shower, portable restroom and a table for a common area.

True North Housing Alliance initially proposed to use a single large tent, but opted to use several individual tents to better manage space and have true isolation.

“The idea is that we have a solid response rather than being reactionary to any issue that may come up or any illness that might come up,” Storey said in a Jan. 26 interview. “It could go beyond just COVID. It could be any kind of flu, norovirus, any of those illnesses.”

The North Valley Community Foundation fulfilled the request less than one week of the fundraising announcement with a $11,858 grant from its COVID-19 Rapid Response fund, a $10,000 anonymous contribution, and $10,000 from the Feather River Health Foundation COVID response fund.

“One of the underlying qualifications for a grant from us for our rapid response fund is you have to be helping at-risk populations,” Executive Vice President of Communications David Little said. “And certainly the Torres Shelter’s guests are the very definition of an at-risk population.”

Storey said she did not expect the turnaround of the fundraising campaign.

“I’m just really blown away by the Chico community,” Storey said. “It’s been neat living here. People come together super quickly and I’m just so surprised.”Related Articles Local News | Oroville Rescue Mission has grown from soup kitchen to house more than 50 people Local News | Chico’s homeless population endures the storm Local News | San Jose: City staff urge council to scrap controversial tiny home site for homeless residents Local News | Newsom signs mental health care overhaul. Will it make a dent in homelessness crisis? Local News | Disentangling the ads on gambling props, homelessness and California tribes

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