CEDC, VCCDC to host ‘Community Resource Fair’ on June 1

CEDC event celebrating Homeownership Month will feature home-buyer education workshops, and foreclosure prevention workshops

VENTURA — Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. (CEDC) and Ventura County Community Development Corp. (VCCDC) NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center will host its annual NeighborWorks® Week event on Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Robert J. Frank Intermediate School in Oxnard, the organizations reported Thursday in a media release.

This year’s event is titled “Hope to Home” in celebration of National HomeOwnership Month, which takes place each June.  The event will focus on educating families on the home-buying process, promoting local homeownership opportunities and preserving homeownership from foreclosure in our communities.

“Hope to Home” will provide local individuals and families with free information, resources and opportunities aimed at empowering them to achieve their homeownership and financial goals. They will also receive information about down payment assistance programs available in Ventura County.

“This event will provide a one-stop shop for families who want to make responsible homeownership a reality,” said Bertha Garcia, VCCDC HomeOwnership Center Director.

The event will include our NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center’s U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development certified Pre-Purchase Home Buyer Workshop. Additional seminars on a variety of homeownership-related topics will also be offered including foreclosure prevention under the Making Home Affordable Program (http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov) and Keep Your Home California Program (http://keepyourhomecalifornia.org) taking place from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. There will also be some Do It Yourself (DIY) green household products demonstrations, including one by Home Depot.  Participants can also obtain access to industry partners in the “Hope to Home” resource fair. The event will feature VIP speakers, giveaway prizes, children’s activities and more.

The “Hope to Home” event is part of CEDC’s annual participation in National NeighborWorks Week (NWW). NeighborWorks Week is now in its 30th year and is an annual event during which NeighborWorks America and its network of 235 local organizations across the nation mobilize tens of thousands of volunteers, businesspeople, neighbors, friends, and local and national elected and civic leaders in a week of neighborhood change and awareness.

Since 1998, CEDC has been a proud chartered member of the NeighborWorks® network (www.nw.org) through its affiliation with NeighborWorks® America, a national intermediary that provides funding and technical assistance to Community Development Corporations (CDCs) across the country.

The following VIPs and elected officials are scheduled to attend the event: Oxnard City Mayor Tim Flynn; Oxnard City Councilmember Carmen Ramirez; Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza; NeighborWorks America Pacific District Relationship Manager Donna Wright; California State Assemblymember Das Williams; and Ambassador Gus Ramirez from the office of California State Assemblymember Jeff Gorell’s Office.

The event will also serve as an opportunity for members of the community to get connected with beneficial resources and services, and for community members, agencies, organizations and businesses to engage in partnerships fostering collaboration to improve our community.

The following partners, organizations and vendors are scheduled to participate in the event: Bank of America; Pacific Oaks Federal Credit Union; Union Bank; Rabobank; Boston Private Bank & Trust, and California Bank & Trust. Joining us from the community are the City of Oxnard Affordable Housing Department; the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement; SurePath Financial Solutions; the County of Ventura Job and Career Center and the Mixteco Project.

Attendees can also visit resource tables of CEDC’s various services including, homeownership lending, realty, rental properties, construction and real estate development and financial counseling.

CEDC encourages all who might benefit from the event to attend. You can also find the event page by going to CEDC’s Facebook (facebook.com/CEDCVC), and clicking on the event tab, or by visiting CEDC’s website at www.cabrilloedc.org.

About CEDC and the VCCDC NeighborWorks Homeownership Center:

CEDC is a private non-profit community development corporation that provides comprehensive housing services, through a community building approach, in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Since its incorporation in 1981, CEDC has built 1,634 units of affordable for-sale and multi-family rental homes, and manages 973