Jesus Center Awarded $6.5M for Substance Use Treatment Facility

The grant will fund a 16-bed residential program to address addiction recovery services for the homeless in Butte County.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:54am

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The Jesus Center in Chico, California has been awarded a $6.5 million grant from the California Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program to construct a new 16-bed residential treatment facility for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. The facility aims to significantly expand access to addiction recovery services, particularly for those utilizing Medi-Cal.

Why it matters

Butte County currently has only 22 residential substance use disorder beds available, creating a critical gap in services. The new Jesus Center facility is envisioned as a key link in a continuum of care, accepting referrals from low-barrier shelters and providing a pathway for individuals to transition from homelessness to recovery and independent living.

The details

The 16-bed capacity was strategically chosen to allow for a quicker launch and enable the continued expansion of outpatient services. The facility will operate 24/7 under the supervision of a licensed clinician and be located adjacent to the existing Sabbath House. It will serve as a crucial link, accepting referrals from low-barrier shelters like Chico's Genesis housing site, the Jesus Center's Renewal Center, and the Butte County Behavioral Health's Sobering Center.

  • The facility is expected to be fully operational by June 2028.
  • The Butte County Behavioral Health's Sobering Center, which opened in 2024, will serve as a referral source for the new facility.

The players

Jesus Center

A nonprofit organization in Chico, California that provides services and programs to address homelessness and addiction.

Amber Abney-Bass

The executive director of the Jesus Center, who highlighted the importance of the new facility in expanding addiction recovery services and job readiness programs.

California Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program

A state-funded program that awarded the $6.5 million grant to the Jesus Center for the construction of the new residential treatment facility.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Jesus Center's new facility is expected to be fully operational by June 2028, providing a crucial link in the continuum of care for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders in Butte County.

The takeaway

The Jesus Center's initiative reflects a growing emphasis on integrated care models that combine housing, mental health services, and substance use treatment, as well as the recognition of the need for low-barrier access to services. This project aims to address the critical gap in addiction recovery resources for the homeless population in Butte County.