Housing Land Trust Ventura County receives $25,000 grant in support of mission to turn donated land into permanently affordable housing

VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Land Trust Ventura County (Housing Land Trust VC) has been awarded the U.S. Bank Foundation’s Community Possible grant. The nonprofit will receive $25,000 in support of its mission to provide permanently affordable housing opportunities on donated land for those who contribute to the fabric of Ventura County’s economy and community. U.S. Bank created the Community Possible grant with the belief that all people deserve the opportunity to dream, believe, and achieve.

“This grant highlights the impact that private businesses can have on affordable housing,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Land Trust Ventura County. Linda also serves as CEO for Housing Trust Fund Ventura County, her guidance of which has helped to fund and commit to loans totaling $40 million since 2013, paving the way for 1,669 affordable units in Ventura County. “These funds help support Housing Land Trust VC’s mission, ensuring that affordable housing within Ventura County is accessible for all.”

The grant will provide resources to Housing Land Trust VC which will advance the organization, positioning it to acquire more land donations that will then become affordable homes. Land donations managed by Housing Land Trust VC have continued in their development including Casa de Carmen at the Oxnard

Navigation Center being developed by Community Development Partners and Mercy House, which will provide 55 permanent housing units, 110 shelter beds and 24-hour supportive services for our community’s homeless population. In Thousand Oaks, a donated parcel will become Hillcrest Homes developed by People’s Self-Help Housing into nearly 80 affordable for-sale townhomes, creating an opportunity for home ownership for our community’s low-income to moderate-income individuals and families. The project is set to begin construction this year.

Housing Land Trust Ventura County is a Community Land Trust that seeks to identify and secure, through donation, undeveloped and surplus land to bring down the costs to develop affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents in Ventura County. The organization is governed by an 11-member all-volunteer Board of Directors led by Chair and now CEO of Homes and Hope, Vice Chair Peter Lyons, Community Development Consultant, Treasurer Marni Brook of Women’s Economic Ventures, and Secretary Tracy McAulay with the County of Ventura. The Board also includes Derrick Wada of Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, Bertha Garcia with VC Community Development Corporation, Retired City Planner MaryAnn Krause, AICP, Anthony Mireles with Laborer’s International Union Local 585, Maria Navarro of CAUSE, Stratis Perros from City of Simi Valley Environmental Services Department, and Architect Mark Petit of Lauterbach & Associates, Architects.