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About Us

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 more than 2,850 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.

Executive Team

Vanessa Guerra

Vanessa Guerra

Director of Rental Housing

This is a portrait photo of Jason Marr, a staff member. He is wearing a gray western shirt. He has brown hair pulled back and a brown and gray beard. He has a slight smile.

Jason Marr

Corporate Contractor

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This is a portrait photo of Holly McCormick, a staff member. She is wearing a blue turtle neck and a black jacket. She has long blonde hear past her shoulders. She has a slight smile.

Holly McCormick

Secretary/Treasurer & Director of Finance & Asset Management

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This is a portrait photo of Mark Montgomery, a staff member. He is wearing a navy blue shirt and a navy blue jacket. He has short brown hair and is smiling.

Mark Montgomery

Director of Fundraising & Communications

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This is a portrait of Seana O'Shaughnessy, the President and CEO. She is wearing a black top with a bright pink jacket. She has short brown hair and is wearing glasses. She is smiling.

Seana O’Shaughnessy

President/CEO

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This is a portrait photo of Gayle Palys, a staff member. She is wearing a lavender top with a scarf with a blue, red, yellow, green, and black pattern. She has short, curly, brown hair and she is wearing glasses. She is smiling.

Gayle Palys

Human Resource Manager

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This is a portrait photo of Wendy Philips, a staff member. She is wearing a top red and black pattern and solid black sleeves. She has dark brown hair slightly longer than her shoulders. She is smiling.

Wendy Phillips

VP & Director of Property Management

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This is a portrait photo of Jill Quezada, a staff member. She is wearing a black top. She has brown curly hair that goes just beyond her shoulders. She is wearing glasses. She is smiling.

Jill Quezada

Director of Self-Help Housing

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Board of Directors

This is a portrait photo of Andy Holcombe, a board member. He is wearing a blue and white gingham dress shirt. He has short gray hair. He has a slight smile.

Andy Holcombe

Chair

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This is a portrait photo of David Goodson, a board member. He is wearing a blue-ish purple dress shirt with a gingham pattern. He has a mix of short, dark and gray hair and a goatee. He has a slight smile.

David Goodson

Vice Chair

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This is a portrait photo of Dave Burkland, a board member. He is wearing a navy blue polo and thin horizontal fuchsia stripes. He has short, light brown hair. He is smiling.

Dave Burkland

Board Member

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This is a portrait photo of Kelley Dodge, a board member. She is wearing a black and gold patterned top and a necklace. She has blond, wavy hair that ends just above her shoulders. She is smiling.

Kelley Dodge

Board Member

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This is a portrait photo of Joseph Feist, a board member. Joseph is wearing a light blue dress shirt with a navy blue jacket. He has short, dark brown hair. He is smiling.

Joseph Feist

Board Member

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This is a portrait photo of Katie Fowkes, a board member. She is wearing a tan top with a gingham pattern in brown and orange. She has wavy blonde hair that goest to her shoulders. She is smiling.

Katie Fowkes

Board Member

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This is a portrait photo of Vanessa Haro, a board member. She has dark brown hair that is wavy and goes past her shoulders. She is wearing a black top. She is smiling.

Vanessa Haro

Board Member

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This is a portrait photo of Mark Hooper, a board member. He is wearing a light blue dress shirt with a thin vertical line pattern that is barely noticeable. Mark keeps a shaven head and wears glasses. He is smiling.

Mark Hooper

Board Member

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A portrait photo of Earl Jessee, a board member. Earl is wearing a light blue dress shirt. He has short, brown hair and a goatee. He is wearing glasses and has a slight smile.

Earl Jessee

Board Member

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A portrait photo of Ed Mayer, a board member. He is wearing a blue dress shirt that has a gingham pattern. He has short blonde hair and he is wearing glasses. He is smiling.

Ed Mayer

Board Member

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A portrait photo of Ross Simmons, a board member. Ross is wearing a blue dress shirt that has a NorthStar logo above the pocket. He has dark hair and is smiling.

Ross Simmons

Board Member

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This is a portrait photo of Seng Yang, a board member. He is wearing a collared shirt that is light pink with a pin-dot pattern. He has dark, short hair. He has a slight smile and is wearing glasses.

Seng S. Yang

Board Member

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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
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