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VENTURA — The County of Ventura and the Ventura County Continuum of Care have been awarded $5.6 million through Round 6 of California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program, a statewide effort to support regional strategies that prevent and end homelessness. The award was announced on March 2 by Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The County of Ventura was among 20 regions statewide included in this latest round of awards.
The County of Ventura and the Ventura County Continuum of Care will direct most of its allocation toward permanent housing solutions, including homeless prevention and diversion, rapid rehousing, rental assistance, supportive services and housing retention, capital investments, motel vouchers, and street outreach for youth experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
“Receiving HHAP Round 6 funding helps the County of Ventura and the Ventura County Continuum of Care continue building our coordinated and focused response to homelessness,” said Dr. Sevet, Johnson, County Executive Officer. “This investment by the State will help advance local solutions that are focused on prevention, housing access, and achieving long-term positive outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.”
A multi-year state grant program, HHAP is available to California counties, large cities, and Continuums of Care to support homelessness response efforts, including permanent housing, interim housing, and other proven local interventions. The most current round of funding was designed to strengthen collaborative regional planning through requiring counties, cities, and Continuums of Care to apply jointly and establish clearly define roles and responsibilities. This award by the State reflects the success of the collaborative work on behalf of the County of Ventura, cities, nonprofit partners, and the Continuum of Care in pursuing real, lasting solutions to address homelessness.
“This funding will make a meaningful difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and the larger community,” stated Kimberlee Albers, Homelessness Solutions Director for the County of Ventura. “It allows us to expand proven solutions – connecting people to housing, services, and the support they need to regain stability. Addressing homelessness requires partnership and sustained investment, and this funding moves us closer to lasting solutions.”
For more information about local homelessness response efforts and the HHAP program, please visit the Ventura County Continuum of Care website at: coc.venturacounty.gov