Programs Aim to Provide Relief to Ventura County Businesses and Families VENTURA — The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for County staff to finalize a $20 million Economic Stabilization and Recovery Program aimed at providing relief to Ventura County…
As America battles COVID-19, low-income individuals, families, seniors and those with special needs – people considered our most vulnerable citizens – are bearing the brunt of the ensuing economic fallout. The trickle-down effect of unemployment, standing at more than 14.7 % or 36.5 million workers applying for unemployment benefits over the last two months, directly impacts tenants who can’t pay full rent and landlords, many of which have mortgages on their rental properties. This negative trend is hitting home right now in Santa Barbara and elsewhere.
Largest County in the State to be approved VENTURA — The County of Ventura is the first and largest Southern California County to receive approval from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to move forward on an accelerated Stage…
The Cal State Student Association (CSSA) has awarded CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Associate Professor of Communication Jacob Jenkins, Ph.D., the 2020 California State University Faculty Innovation & Leadership Award.
Santa Barbara City College has been selected to participate in a pilot project through a partnership with the California Department of Social Services, the Foundation for California Community Colleges and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to provide free immigration legal services. Through this partnership, The United Farm Workers (UFW) Foundation was selected to provide immigration legal services at SBCC starting May 2020. Over the course of the next year and a half the Community College Immigration Legal Services Project will provide free immigration legal services, including education and outreach services, to students, staff and faculty on California community college campuses statewide.
The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office is committed to public service and even during this challenging time, for complicated cases, we want to offer taxpayers the opportunity to speak directly to our staff while our office is closed.
Beginning Tuesday, May 19th, 2020, our office will be available by appointment only for cases requiring in-person assistance. In order to keep both the public and our staff safe during this COVID-19 Pandemic, we are able to provide appointments under the following requirements:
Despite a large increase in the amount of testing, COVID-19 infections continue to be modest. During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors hearing, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Director presented the above graph, which indicates that new cases have continued to decline if you exclude the cases from the Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution. At the Board of Supervisors meeting this coming Tuesday, the Board will receive a presentation on the Reopening In Safe Environment (RISE) Guide, which builds off of the guidance from the Governor’s Resilience Roadmap but also provides local guidance and best practices for industry sectors as developed by an expert panel.
State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) issued the following statement today on Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revise, his revised budget proposal:
“California is facing a very tough budget year as the result of the pandemic, and this revised budget proposal reflects this new and painful reality.
The County of Ventura announces that more businesses are permitted to reopen on the State’s Roadmap to reopening. Governor Newsom announced modifications to the State-wide stay-at-home order today. The State has added more businesses to Early Stage 2. The Governor announced that Counties, under the guidance of the Public Health Officer, can move forward in reopening office-based businesses, car washes, pet groomers, outdoor museums and other public spaces.
May 14 — Are you facing a financial setback and worried about falling behind on your mortgage? Are you facing foreclosure Join us to learn more about the foreclosure prevention options you may have available with your lender.
Presented by Gabriela Muñoz, HUD-Certified Homeownership Specialist
This past Saturday was going to be the end of our special online event “Building Together”. I say ‘was’, because due to its heartwarming success, and overwhelming requests to keep it up and running, we have decided to continue accepting submissions! If you have not yet had a chance to see what “home means” to people across our nation, and in some cases around the globe, you will not want to miss it, so check out the Building Together pages and even consider a submission yourself, if you haven’t already!
Over the past few months, COVID-19 has reshaped our lives and priorities in powerful ways. Here at your United Way, we’ve been collaborating with our community partners and adapting how we provide services so that we can better respond to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
In this moment of unprecedented uncertainty, we are incredibly thankful for our community partners, donors, and volunteers. They’ve stepped up to provide vital resources for our neighbors and friends who need it the most right now.
To learn more about how your local United Way is responding during this global pandemic, please take a moment to view my recent interview with OVTV.
SANTA MARIA — A student leader/athlete at Pioneer Valley High School has been rewarded for his efforts with a $100,000 McDonald’s HACER Scholarship. Vladimir Rosales will be the first in his family to have an opportunity to attend college and is…
Building Together has been a tremendous success – thank you to everyone who has participated in this event! It has been so touching to read “what home means to you”; we know that this project has brought joy and comfort to so many.
Because of the ongoing impact, we have been asked to keep Building Together open ended. So, please keep submitting your wonderful entries and sending in your generous gifts in support of a PSHH resident facing a medical, food, or utility emergency.
As California schools remain shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara), announced legislation on May 8 to expand job protected leave for working parents affected by school and childcare closures as a result of a declared federal, state, or local emergency.
Despite economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 Outbreak, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) continues to support youth and staff to cope and emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
The BGCGCV continues to keep 4 out of 9 of its Clubs open to provide the critical childcare needed for essential working families. In addition to childcare, the BGCGCV is working hard to maintain a sense of routine for youth, help prevent learning loss, and focusing on the social, and emotional wellbeing of its members.
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue, a program of the Community Environmental Council (CEC), announces multiple collaborations to support county-wide efforts to feed those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue matches donors that have excess, nutritious food with organizations serving food insecure populations. Since 2018, this CEC-led effort has coordinated the?rescue?of?nearly 60,000 pounds of edible prepared food?for?distribution?through?more than a dozen agencies,?including Buellton Senior Center, Casa Serena, PATH, and Salvation Army Hospitality House. Beyond helping people, food rescue mitigates climate impacts by keeping high-quality excess prepared food out of landfills, where it decomposes and emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is proud to announce the selection of its first Executive Director, Shakira Miracle. Her hiring comes at a critical time when the strain and stress on our local food system is at an unprecedented high due to COVID-19.
Now, more than ever, VCCDC strives for this unifying vision. Even during these challenging times, homeownership is still considered to be a foundation for building financial stability. As we pivot to address the recent challenges in our communities, we will continue to empower and connect people through all our programs.
After conducting a recent survey, we found that some of our most affected neighbors are homeowners at risk of foreclosure and frustrated tenants who are struggling to pay rent with limited understanding of their options or fair housing laws. We have also noted that a fair number of senior homeowners have reached out to us, asking about their options with their current mortgages. As a result, we are renewing focus on foreclosure prevention counseling, tenant education and reverse mortgage counseling to address these critical issues.
The SBA will resume accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 7:30 AM.
If you are seeking additional capital through the Paycheck Protection Program, we highly encourage you to review our Federal Funding Preparation Guide in advance of any application you may submit.
The Southeast Ventura County YMCA through its disaster-relief program, California Strong, has completed distributing the first round of the $120,000 allocated for direct financial assistance grants to Ventura County residents whose financial situation has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The grants are from the Rapid Response Fund set up by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF). The VCCF partnered with the YMCA to provide immediate financial assistance, reviewing grant applications, vetting applicants and distributing checks.
The Ventura County Public Health Officer announced that the Stay Well At Home Order will be extended until May 15, 2020. The current Order is set to expire April 19, 2020 at midnight. The Public Health Officer will be modifying the current Order and making an announcement about the details before the current Order expires.
The good news is that physical distancing is working. Our County Public Health Department and the hospitals have worked to increase hospital bed capacity to about 590 countywide, yet our hospitalizations are at 40 (confirmed patients). Lives have been saved by our combined efforts, so please keep it up as the State wrestles with how long the “Shelter in Place” order will last and we wrestle with what we will do if the order is lifted or modified.
VENTURA COUNTY — Good Evening, Here is your daily update on COVID-19 cases in the County of Ventura. 33 new cases (*many lab reports from the weekend and from yesterday came in today) 350 total cases 136 recovered cases 65…
Steven Hintz, Ventura County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector, on April 7 announced that beginning April 11, 2020 he will accept taxpayer applications for waiver of late-payment penalties and fees for the second installment of the 2019-2020 secured property tax billings. If the applications are granted, the new payment due date will be August 31, 2020. There is no additional grace period.
VENTURA — District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has initiated several investigations against county businesses for potential violations of Penal Code section 396, price gouging. Since March 5, 2020, the District Attorney’s Office has received…
SoCalGas CAREs reminds customers they can qualify to save 20 percent on their monthly utility bills through CARE LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) on April 6 launched a campaign titled, “SoCalGas CAREs” for customers whose income may have…
Since our inception 75 years ago this month, United Way of Ventura County has been a volunteer-driven organization, improving lives by inspiring and mobilizing the caring power and resources of our community. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness cannot wait for help – they need it now, as the COVID-19 virus exposes and intensifies the homeless crisis. The unprecedented COVID-19 emergency is mobilizing our community to respond to our most vulnerable population and dictating a shift in how we provide services.
Good Afternoon Clients, Partners and Friends, It is truly an extraordinary time. Thank you for your partnership, support and grace as we have all made necessary and sometimes uncomfortable adjustments to meet this moment. In the brief period of time…
LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) on March 27 reminded customers to be on alert for potential scams targeting utility customers during the COVID-19 outbreak. One common scam involves telling customers they must pay their gas bill immediately or…
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. David Magallanes By David…
CORONAVIRUS SCAM ALERTS There are a growing number of scams related to the coronavirus. Here are a few known examples for you to be aware of. Visit: ftc.gov/coronavirus. *** ALERTAS DE ESTAFA DEL CORONAVIRUS Hay un número creciente de estafas…
SoCalGas® CUSTOMER INFORMATION Bill Payment Options & Services During COVID-19 WHERE AND HOW TO MAKE A PAYMENT Beginning Monday March 23, 2020 SoCalGas branch payment offices will also be closed to the public. Some Authorized Payment Locations may close or…
PSHH Accepting Intake Forms for Self-Help Home Program Architectural Rendering of Mustang Court homes KING CITY — Earlier this month, Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) hosted a lottery in anticipation of their upcoming home ownership opportunity in King City: Mustang Court.…
SECURED TAXES ARE DELINQUENT AFTER APRIL10,2020: Steven Hintz, Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector, announced that April 10th deadline for Secured property tax bills is still in effect. The 2nd installment of the 2019/20 Annual Secured property tax bill is due as…
400+ Job Seekers Line Up for Over 200 Local Jobs PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme/Oxnard Harbor District hosted its first-ever job fair last Saturday, offering 450 members of the local community the opportunity to apply for over 200…
FROM HOPE TO HOME stories from our clients “When I found out about this class i didn’t really know something like this existed. I thought you kinda just go about it on your own. “ What is the homebuying process…
Guadalupe Court waiting list opens February 28 Architectural rendering of Guadalupe Court CENTRAL COAST — Applications are now available for Guadalupe Court, Peoples’ Self-Help Housing’s (PSHH) newest affordable housing for farmworkers in Guadalupe, CA. Primary applicants must earn a substantial…
SANTA BARBARA — As we head into tax season, United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) will be providing free income tax return preparation and E-Filing to help residents receive their tax refunds at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) locations…
Location: America’s Job Center 2901 N. Ventura Rd., 3rd Floor, Oxnard 805-204-5171 January 8 and 22 – Social Media, 10:00 a.m. – noon – Social media is everywhere. It is not just for entertainment or a way to stay connected…
Location: America’s Job Center 2901 N. Ventura Rd., 3rd Floor, Oxnard 805-204-5171 February 5 and 19 – Social Media, 10:00 a.m. – noon – Social media is everywhere. It is not just for entertainment or a way to stay connected…
VENTURA — To help students overcome the challenge of paying for college, the Ventura County Community College District is holding free Cash 4 College workshops at its four campuses. Workshops will be held on Feb. 22 (details below). Financial aid…
Location: America’s Job Center 2901 N. Ventura Rd., 3rd Floor, Oxnard 805-204-5171 April 3 – Winning Interviews, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This Career Shop will give you…
This is a free event aimed to connect women and minority business owners and innovators with the amazing opportunities that the Department of Navy (DON) has to offer.
Join us for a free webinar on commercial leasing and finding creative solutions to tenant-landlord disputes during COVID-19 with partners and associate attorneys from Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones, & Feingold.
Our excellent panel with extensive experience in lease negotiation, civil litigation, and resolving business disputes will review:
• Lease provisions during COVID-19
• The September 30th eviction moratorium
• Effect of bankruptcies on commercial tenancies
• Strategies to achieving win-win solutions for both tenants and landlords
According to a recent survey distributed by the Housing Authority City of Santa Barbara (HACSB), tenants and landlords are interested in becoming better educated on housing priorities and issues unique to our region. The hot-button topics includes tenant rights and responsibilities, resources for rent and mortgage relief during the COVID-19 economic downturn, rental mediation and workforce housing. To address these and other important housing matters, 2nd story will host the 3rd annual Housing Santa Barbara Day, which has been expanded to a
5-day virtual event with workshops on Saturday, October 24th, Monday the 26th, Tuesday the 27th, Wednesday the 28th and Thursday the 29th. All workshops are free with online registration; to sign up, click here.
OPAC, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation, will host a virtual Town Hall on the Pending Eviction Crisis on Thursday, November 19 from 4 to 6 pm on Zoom. The event is part of a two-year project called “CLOSE TO HOME: A Community Conversation Spotlighting the People, Places, and Perspectives Surrounding Homelessness.”
Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) annual Celebration of Small Business is launching a Virtual Shop Local Market to safely bring shoppers to local small businesses this holiday season. The marketplace will feature more than 50 local, women-owned and minority-owned small businesses who are part of the WEV community. The 26-day, dynamic online shopping portal will be open online from November 17 – December 13 and can be accessed by visiting WEV’s website at www.wevonline.org
Organization on course to reach $5 million goal by December 31st, 2019 VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) announced this week that it has recently received funding support from The McCune Foundation, The Lluella Morey Murphy…
VENTURA — The County of Ventura Auditor-Controller’s Internal Audit Division (IAD) received the highest possible opinion from a recent peer review conducted for the five-year period July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2019. Specifically, the peer reviewers found that the IAD’s…
OXNARD — The Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE), Oxnard Chapter, is proud to sponsor the First Annual Ventura County Student Speech Competition. Students in grades 6-8 from Ventura County School Districts have been invited to participate. A student participant…
Also receives $125,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) is helping to successfully change the landscape of Ventura County’s affordable housing market. Its three newest funding projects would…
$20,000 available in grant funding VENTURA COUNTY — Rebozo Festival, Inc., is pleased to announce that awards of up to $20,000 will be granted to qualified non-profit organizations that focus on the cultural, social and/or educational needs of the Ventura County…
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation has unveiled its new website designed to make it easier for students to engage with the foundation and explore scholarship opportunities, tuition relief and textbook lending options. It also provides a simple process for…
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Economics Miguel Delgado Helleseter, Ph.D. has been appointed to the board of Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME). HOME addresses the need for balance between jobs and housing in Ventura County and works…
SANTA PAULA — The nonprofit ALMA, a 501(c) offers free Financial Literacy Seminars in English and Spanish to the community on a variety of Financial Literacy topics. The upcoming Seminars will be in Spanish and the Topic will be Social Security…
OXNARD — In order to help the community better understand the City’s budget, budgeting process and financial policies, City staff prepared a presentation that helps to explain how the City is funded, to what services the money is distributed and…
CAMARILLO — Local female entrepreneurs who have shaped a career as a zero-waste pioneer, a business guru and a lemonade virtuoso will give a panel discussion from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Petit Salon on Tuesday November…
PORT HUENEME — The nonprofit ALMA, a 501(c) offers free Financial Literacy Seminars in English and Spanish to the community on a variety of Financial Literacy topics. The upcoming Seminar will be in English and the Topic will be Social Security…
OXNARD — The seminar “Medicare & Social Security: Maximize Your Benefits,” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Oxnard Public Main Library, 251 S. A St., Room B, Oxnard. Click on image for more…
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. David Magallanes By David…
PORT OF HUENEME — For the ninth consecutive year, the Port of Hueneme is being recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). The award highlights the Port’s FY2018 Comprehensive…
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Community Connection: A one-stop-shop event connecting underrepresented groups to difficult-to-obtain benefits and services is being held in Oceano this month. The County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office and the County Department of Social Services…
OXNARD — Oxnard College is pleased to announce the grand opening ceremony of the Dream Resource Center at 3 p.m. on August 14. The ceremony will be at Oxnard College, 4000 S Rose Ave., Oxnard, in the Dream Resource Center. It…
Prop 1 match brings total raised at event to $200,000 and takes organization halfway to its $5 million year-end goal for Ventura County affordable housing. VENTURA – Kicking off the summer, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) hosted its…
