Our Work
CHIP is a private, non-profit 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. Here’s what we do:
- Construct mutual self-help (sweat equity) housing and affordable multi-family apartment housing
- Construct mult-family apartment communities for low-and very-low income residents utilizing a variety of local, State, Federal, and private funding sources.
- Manage rental properties we build and properties owned by others (18 properties total)
- Provide education and services to residents
- Build and enhance communities
Our organization has built and preserved over 3000 housing units in our seven-county service area and is acknowledged as an innovator and leader in rural housing issues.
CHIP receives funding from state, federal, and local government grants and contracts as well as foundation grants, corporations and private donors. The Board of Directors consists of 12 volunteers who represent a cross-section of the communities that CHIP represents. CHIP holds a General B contractor's license that allows us to perform construction as well as obtain permits.
Our History
CHIP began as a partnership between CSU Chico and the City of Chico, founded in 1973 by Jim Jessee, Keith Hopkins, Bill Murphy and Kevin Campbell. In 1991, the articles were amended to change the name to Community Housing Improvement Program, Incorporated. CHIP’s original purpose was to improve a small neighborhood south of campus through a housing rehab program. In 1980, we diversified operations by becoming a USDA Self-Help Housing grantee, and expanded to several counties. In 2018, the devastating Camp Fire destroyed 14,000 structures in Paradise and the surrounding area. CHIP lost its 36-unit rental community, Paradise Community Village, to the fire and many of CHIP’s staff were also affected. From that moment on, CHIP has been committed to the region’s long-term recovery. Paradise Community Village was rebuilt in 2021, and welcomed 29 Camp Fire survivors. Between 2019 and 2021, CHIP’s Self-Help Department has completed 94 single-family homes. In June of 2021, CHIP celebrated the completion of its 2,000th home since the program began in 1981.
Our Mission
CHIP creates affordable homeownership and quality rental housing in Northern California. We build and maintain permanent housing that promotes stability, cultivates economic benefits, nurtures community, and empowers residents.
Our Vision
We envision a region where everyone has a home and opportunity to thrive in healthy and inclusive communities.
Our Values
Community
We live in the communities we serve and work to improve the quality of life for our entire region. Valuing community development and community building, we partner with residents to strengthen the social fabric of our developments, while continually improving our own organizational culture.
Compassion
We are guided by the compassion we have for people and their well-being. With this compassion, we build relationships, always striving to understand the strengths, challenges, needs, and interests of the people and communities we serve. We are compassionate in our interactions with each other and our partners, recognizing that we all care deeply about the work we do.
Integrity
We nurture ethical decision making through training, leadership development, and a supportive environment. We ensure transparency of our principles and commitments in our partnerships, relationships with funders, and other stakeholders. We remain true to our core values as we adapt to challenges and unanticipated situations with resilience.
Quality
We invest in our people, processes, and partnerships by engaging in conversations with our communities, facilitating individual and organizational learning, and continually striving to improve and innovate. We work to ensure that our housing and services meet both the needs of our communities and realize the highest standard of quality.
Respect
We practice and promote mutual respect within our organization, in our interaction with partners and communities, and in working with all individuals, regardless of background or ideology. Respect involves striving to understand differing perspectives, supporting collaborative conversations and processes informed by a variety of voices. We work to build a community where everyone feels valued and included.
Executive Team
Board of Directors
Supporters
Support from the following organizations are vital to CHIP's ability to address the region's affordable housing crisis. The following supporters have provided $5,000 or more in financial support to CHIP and/or its clients.
Partner With Us
Are you interested in seeing affordable communities grow and thrive? We’d love to hear from you!
Contact Us