Celebrates $26+ million in funded/committed loans towards affordable housing in Ventura County
Elenore Vaughn. Courtesy photos.
VENTURA — During its Annual Public Meeting in January, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announced two new Directors have joined its Board. Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Paula, Elenore Vaughn joins the Board bringing with her two decades of experience in real estate development and public affairs. Joining Ms. Vaughn on the Board is longstanding community member and partner at McCarthy Companies, Sarah McCarthy-Garcia, who brings years of local building and business development experience. The 2023 Board is led by 2023 Chair Tracy McAulay, Management Analyst for the County of Ventura Community Development Division and Vice Chair Ken Trigueiro, CEO & President of People’s Self-Help Housing.
With over 140 registered guests attending the nonprofit’s Annual Public Meeting via Zoom, guests heard from Richard Green, Ph.D. Director and Lusk Chair in Real Estate at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate and Alan Greenlee, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing. Tailored around the theme, “Lives Connected Through One Common Need,” the speakers stressed the economic importance of ensuring that all members of a community are provided equitable access to safe and affordable homes and the role that a revolving loan fund plays in creating them. During the meeting, the nonprofit announced that since 2013 over $26 million, $14.7 million in 2022 alone, has been funded or committed to build 1,120 affordable multifamily developments. Additionally, its supporting nonprofit, Housing Land Trust Ventura County, has received two parcels of donated land since 2021 on which to build permanent affordable homes.
Meet Housing Trust Fund VC’s two newest Board Directors:
Elenore Vaughn joined the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Paula in February 2022. Prior to joining the City, Vaughn was the President/CEO of Emerald Urban Development & Consulting, a real estate developer of residential, mixed-use, and commercial properties. Vaughn’s experience includes economic development, project/property management, public- private sector collaboration, crisis management, and diversity outreach. Vaughn is a former President/CEO of Habitat for Humanity Los Angeles and was appointed in 2006 by then Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to serve on the Department of Building & Safety Board of Commissioners. Her passion for improving the quality of life for low-income residents remains a driving force in her current position.
Sarah McCarthy-Garcia.
Partner of the privately held McCarthy Companies, Sarah McCarthy-Garcia is the company’s Director of Business Development and Marketing. Founded in 1980, Ventura-based McCarthy Companies is a full-service residential development and construction company with a focus on multifamily, senior, mixed-used, single family and affordable housing communities. Their portfolio includes Housing Trust Fund VC funded Mountain View Apartments in Fillmore, Walnut Apartments in Moorpark, and Willett Ranch and Castillo del Sol Apartments in Ventura.
Having served on the Housing Trust Fund VC Board for the last 5 1/2 years, Tracy McAulay stepped into the Board leadership role after having held the Secretary position, and Vice Chair position in 2021 and 2022. “I’m honored to help guide Housing Trust Fund Ventura County alongside our 18-member Board as we put the over $26 million in loan funds to use in fulfilling our mission of providing housing stability for all in our community.”
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County – Launched as a 501c3 nonprofit corporation in 2011, Housing Trust Fund VC is the local trusted leader in helping to increase affordable housing options throughout Ventura County by leveraging public-private partnerships to provide low-cost, flexible loans early in the housing development cycle. As of the end of December 2022, Housing Trust Fund VC has committed to investing $26 million through its Revolving Loan Fund, creating 1,120 affordable apartments and homes for very-low, low- and middle-income employees, transitional age foster youth, veterans, farm workers, and the homeless.