CHICO, Calif. - A local shelter is stepping up efforts to help the homeless who have recently been forced out of parks in Chico.

The Torres Shelter says it is increasing its capacity to allow more guests, but people will first have to go through a quarantine process.

The city of Chico just recently ramped up enforcement against overnight camping at parks.

Just a few days ago lower Bidwell Park was filled with encampments but on Friday the park was completely empty.

The Executive Director for the True North Housing Alliance, Joy Amaro says they were not taking in new guests at The Torres Shelter because of the pandemic, but after the park clear-out, they wanted to find a safe way to help.

They teamed up with a local hotel where people will be quarantined for two weeks before entering the shelter.

"We see individuals that need IHSS workers, some that are extremely diabetic. and so it's really connecting them with services. Something they could never obtain on the street, this will help get them on the right path they need to succeed," said Amaro.

She adds, they anticipate this program will run for a couple of months and they hope to increase their capacity to 120 people.

Ech person will be assigned a case manager. They will provide a house action plan for each individual.

They will connect them with whatever resources they need to get them on the path of stability.

Thursday, they placed 20 people who were staying at the encampments into hotel rooms.

They realize that they are not going to be able to accomodate everyone who needs help but they are doing the best they can to help as many people as possible.

So far city officials in Chico have not announced any other immediate plan regarding this issue.

The funding being used for this came from the state through the Homeless Emergency Assistance Program.