On a sunny mid-January afternoon, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of Jarvis Gardens, a 50-unit affordable housing complex for low-income seniors in Chico that is named in honor of the city council member and housing advocate known for championing the needs of the least fortunate. The family law attorney and social activist died in 2004 at age 46, after battling cancer for two years.

The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the city of Chico. Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS) and Christian Church Homes of Northern California co-sponsored the 2004 HUD application.

“This is a tribute to Coleen’s legacy. It’s thrilling to see the outcome of her leadership,” said Cynthia Abbot, HUD’s Sacramento field office director, during the Jan. 17 event.

Don Chapman, executive director of NVCSS, lauded the partnership that resulted in a facility that provides a quality independent living experience for low-income seniors.

“Providing affordable housing for special populations is an important aspect of NVCSS’ mission in the six counties that we serve,” he said. “The completion of Jarvis Gardens adds to our existing inventory of such housing for the developmentally disadvantaged and severely mentally ill as well as for low income seniors.”

The site is located on more than three acres of land at the corner of 20th Avenue and Notre Dame Boulevard. It’s adjacent to six acres set to be developed as a park with walking trails, benches and a natural habitat environment.

Oakland-based Christian Church Homes, affiliated with the First Christian Church, specializes in developing and managing affordable housing for seniors. The private non-profit corporation has been in existence since 1961.

Donald Stump, president and chief executive officer of Christian Church Homes, commended Jarvis Gardens as a place “where you have a lot more than affordable rent. You have a community of people who take care of each other.”

Resident Shelby Albright, 83, appraised his new one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen.

“I like it. I want to cook my own food, and eat when I want to,” he said, explaining why he moved to Jarvis Gardens from a Chico area retirement home that scheduled everything for its residents, “even telling us when to play pinochle.”

The Marine veteran of World War II has regained his sense of freedom. “There are three churches within walking distance, plus fast food places and shopping. That’s important,” he said.

Chico mayor Andy Holcombe said the facility is “a wonderful example of a public, private and non-profit partnership coming together to get something done.”

The city’s $3 million contribution, combined with $6 million in HUD funds, provided “much needed affordable housing for seniors,” the mayor said, noting that Jarvis Gardens “has extra amenities to help people live independently longer. That’s a good investment from a financial and social point of view —and in a spiritual sense.”

He thinks the facility is aptly named after Coleen Jarvis, a founding member of the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force.

“Working with the homeless, or those in need of housing, was one of her particular passions,” Holcombe said in an interview about his city council colleague whom he said was “very liberal and a devout Catholic.” In his public comments at the ribbon-cutting he called Jarvis Gardens “a living, breathing manifestation of Coleen’s values.”

Father Michael Kiernan, vicar for social services and director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs for the Diocese of Sacramento, offered a blessing for Jarvis Gardens “as a place of joy and peace.” He extended the best wishes of the diocese on behalf of Bishop William K. Weigand and Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto.

Members of Coleen Jarvis’ family were present, including husband Michael Stauffer and daughter Carli Jarvis. Her son, Jeremiah Jarvis, who became a police officer in August, could not be present. Her mother, Bobbe Serena-Wayman, talked about her daughter in an interview following the ceremony.

“Coleen was always this way, she was always a giver,” Serena-Wayman said, adding that her daughter’s high school volunteer work with sick and physically-impaired patients at a children’s hospital while the family lived in Southern California solidified her desire to help those in need.

When asked what she sees as she looks at the new facility, Serena-Wayman replied, “I see love — her love of others, her humanity, her caring.”

Momentarily overcome, she paused before continuing. “She was my daughter. But she really was very, very special.”

Dr. Stephen Schwartz, a retired physician and a permanent deacon at St. John Parish in Chico, is on the board of directors for NVCSS and is also president of the board of directors for Jarvis Gardens, Inc. He said that a future collaboration with HUD and the city of Chico will result in a 10-unit facility for persons with persistent mental illness. It will be built in the city about a quarter-mile from Butte County mental health services.

Northern Valley Catholic Social Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Catholic Charities of Sacramento, opened an office in Redding in 1986 with one staff member and one volunteer. NVCSS has grown to serve the six northern counties of Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity. Volunteers, staff, and board members provide programs in the areas of housing, mental health, teen services, and family and community support. The agency helps more than 22,000 clients a year, from infants to senior citizens.

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