A Place to Call Home CHIP helps working families in Northern California rent comfortable homes in a caring community BY ANNE STOKES
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t was 2010, and Rachel Nohrden, a single mother jasmine that grows along the who worked full-time as a nurse, was priced out of fence and when it blooms, it the Redding rental market. smells amazing,” Nohrden says. “I was actually born and raised in Santa Cruz What impresses Nohrden most, County, … and I moved to Redding to attend Shasta however, is the commitment CHIP has College, where I got my CNA license,” Nohrden recalls. to its residents—both in terms of keeping the “I met my husband (there), and had a little girl, Holly, property in excellent repair, and by offering commuwho’s 13 now. But I went through my divorce and it nity events that build friendships between neighbors. was difficult up here because I didn’t have family.” In fact, Nohrden is a CHIP volunteer at Linden, teachHer biggest concern was a home to raise her ing art lessons to resident children in the spacious daughter in, and everywhere she looked, and well-stocked community room. “On rents were too expensive, even though Mother’s Day, we do projects with the she worked 40 hours a week. kids, have cookies or cake or ice “Then someone told me about cream socials, then the kids run the Linden Apartments,” she home with their gifts for their says, adding they were built mothers,” she says. The people and are managed by CHIP, Like all of us, Nohrden here—their hearts the Community Housing has suffered ups and Improvement Program. downs over the past few are big. It’s a very Nohrden submitted a years, but having a stable safe and wonderful rental application and— home has helped her and much to her relief—she her now-teenage daughter place to live.” and Holly were approved for move forward. Nohrden just Rachel Nohrden CHIP resident at Linden a two-bedroom apartment. finished her master’s degree, Apartments in “We’ve lived here ever since,” for instance, and started a Redding Nohrden says proudly. “Holly new job as an office manager. could barely climb the stairs—she “Being able to live at Linden, to was only 1 ½ when we moved in.” have a roof over our heads, allowed But it is still a perfect home, more than a me the opportunity to continue my educadecade later. “This is one of the nicest apartment comtion and find an amazing job,” she says. “The people plexes in Redding,” she says, and she looked at many here—their hearts are big. It’s a very safe and wonderbefore finding Linden. She and her daughter share a ful place to live.” two-story end unit, which includes a living area, kitchen What’s next? Nohrden has begun exploring CHIP’s and half-bath downstairs, as well as two bedrooms build-a-home program. “For me, one of my personal and a bathroom upstairs. There is also a large, fenced, goals would be able to move up to the next level with grassy backyard—perfect for a little girl to play—and home ownership,” she says. where they now both relax or entertain friends. “There’s
For more information about CHIP rentals in Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Sutter and Yuba counties, see https://chiphousing.org/rentals PAID ADVERTISEMENT