Tag: homelessness

Bilingual commentary — Compassion vs. Caution on the Street

by Community Contributor • June 20, 2025 • Comments Off

Having more time to walk the streets of the Oxnard and Ventura areas lately, I find myself navigating a world that had not been entirely apparent to me in the past. I am more aware now of the great number of people who are distressed, troubled, and immersed in mental illness.

Their plight becomes obvious as I witness people who are talking animatedly with themselves—sometimes cheerfully, but too often they are angry and threatening. It’s hard to feel safe when someone close by is screaming something such as, “I’m gonna kill every single person I find!”

United Way of Ventura County secures $1.7 million in funding to address homelessness

by Community Contributor • April 30, 2025 • Comments Off

VENTURA — United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) has been awarded two grants totaling $1.7 million from the Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance. Both grants are from the State of California’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) Round 5 for Homeless Prevention, and Rapid Re-Housing. This funding will bolster key programs, including Home Safe which aims to place homeless and keep them housed as well as the countywide Landlord Engagement Program (LEP), which aims to increase housing stock and utilize existing housing vouchers and subsidies provided by local jurisdictions and community partners. By recruiting and retaining landlords willing to assist, the program seeks to prevent and end homelessness in the community.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Continuum of Care announces 15.6% reduction in 2025 Ventura County Homeless Count

by Community Contributor • April 9, 2025 • Comments Off

VENTURA — The Ventura County Continuum of Care has reported a 15.6% decrease in homelessness as part of the 2025 Ventura County Homeless Count. Conducted on January 22, 2025, the count identified 1,990 individuals experiencing homelessness, a reduction of 368 people compared to 2024. Since 2023, the overall decrease stands at 18.5%.

This progress reflects successful investments in permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention programs, and enhanced supportive services across the county to promote housing retention. The count, which adheres to federal definitions of homelessness, includes individuals living unsheltered, in emergency shelters, or in transitional housing.

Bilingual report — City of Ventura receives over $9 million in funding to address homelessness

by Community Contributor • March 17, 2025 • Comments Off

“This grant will provide much-needed support for individuals living in encampments,” said Ventura Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios. “Addressing homelessness remains a top priority for our City Council, and we are committed to investing in programs that tackle root causes while offering both immediate and long-term solutions.”

Bilingual report — Board of Supervisors approves over $1 Million in funding to The ARCH to address homelessness

by Community Contributor • January 29, 2025 • Comments Off

VENTURA — In an ongoing effort to combat homelessness and support vulnerable populations, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors has approved a second amendment to the agreement with the City of Ventura, allocating $1,013,063 in financial support for the operation of The ARCH year-round emergency shelter. The agreement emphasizes both financial responsibility and measurable outcomes to ensure effective use of public funds.

The ARCH, located in the city of Ventura and operated by Mercy House, is a vital resource for individuals experiencing homelessness. This funding, provided on a 50/50 cost-sharing basis with the City of Ventura, supports the shelter’s operations under a newly established performance-based model.

DignityMoves Launches Holiday Gift Drive to Support Residents Transitioning Off the Streets

by Community Contributor • December 16, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — The holiday season is a time for connection, compassion, and generosity, and for those transitioning from homelessness to stable housing, it can be especially meaningful. This year DignityMoves is continuing its holiday tradition at their La Posada Village on Hollister Ave. and their downtown Santa Barbara Street Village by giving each of the 114 residents a stocking, basket or gift bag with personal and holiday items.

The residents of this “interim supportive housing” – a stop-over between tents and permanent housing – have a safe and dignified place to get out of survival mode to start to rebuild their lives.

For many of the current residents, this will be the first holiday season in years spent off the streets, making it all the more meaningful.

Bilingual report — A collaborative approach to addressing homelessness

by Community Contributor • May 16, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — On March 26, 2024, the Ventura City Council approved a five-year plan to address homelessness. This plan, developed through collaboration with the County of Ventura, City of Oxnard, and City of Thousand Oaks, outlines a strategy tailored to Ventura’s needs. LeSar Development Consultants played a crucial role by providing extensive research to inform the plan.

The Point in Time Count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), serves as a crucial tool for communities seeking federal grants to address homelessness. Results from the 2024 Ventura County Homeless Point in Time Count, conducted by the Ventura County Continuum of Care, showed a significant change. The number of sheltered persons increased by 14.7% from 2023 to 2024, reaching 927 individuals, while the number of unsheltered persons decreased by 12.4% to 1,431.

DignityMoves’ La Posada Village receives Resolution from County Board of Supervisors

by Community Contributor • May 7, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — The County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors recognized the grand opening of La Posada Village, a development designed by innovative housing developer DignityMoves to provide interim housing to individuals experiencing homelessness. The Board plans to pass a resolution recognizing La Posada’s community contributions through its offer of shelter, dignity, help, and hope to vulnerable Santa Barbara residents.

“La Posada opens doors for some of our community’s most vulnerable. It opens doors for shelter, food, warmth, and safety. It opens doors for a chance to forge a new path and to reclaim dignity and hope. I couldn’t be more proud of the County for partnering with DignityMoves to address the issue of homelessness head on – and to have La Posada housed in the Second District,” said Supervisor Laura Capps

Bilingual report — County of Ventura hosts Governor’s Senior Advisor on Homelessness

by Community Contributor • May 2, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — On Tuesday, April 30, the County of Ventura hosted a visit from the Senior Advisor on Homelessness for Governor Gavin Newsom, Hafsa Kaka, and Deputy Regional Director, Vishesh Anand. The visit, which consisted of a presentation on County efforts to address homelessness and several site visits with local nonprofit partners, included participation from the Ventura County Continuum of Care, Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Human Services Agency, the Public Defender’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Public Works Agency, and the Ventura County Fire Department as well as representatives from the cities of Camarillo, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.

Bilingual report — County officials hold press conference to present recent actions taken to address homelessness

by Community Contributor • March 13, 2024 • Comments Off

The plight of each of our unhoused neighbors is complicated,” stated 2ndDistrict Supervisor Jeff Gorell. “It requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. That’s what we are doing in the County of Ventura through the bold actions from the Board of Supervisors and recently adopted initiatives through the Strategic Plan Priority to Address Homelessness and lift up the most vulnerable.”

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors takes further action to reduce homelessness

by Community Contributor • February 29, 2024 • Comments Off

VENTURA — On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors adopted significant measures to combat homelessness with a proactive approach aimed at reducing the number of individuals facing housing instability. The actions taken by the Board reflect a comprehensive strategy outlined in the Updated Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, as presented by LeSar Development Consultants on December 19, 2023, and align with the Board’s adopted Strategic Plan Priority to Address Homelessness and Lift Up the Most Vulnerable.

Recognizing the urgency of the issue, the Board has adopted recommendations to address homelessness from multiple angles, including homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing, housing prioritization, regional coordination, outreach, service delivery, data-driven decision making, and representation.

DignityMoves in Santa Barbara receives $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

SANTA BARBARA — DignityMoves’s Santa Barbara Capital Campaign has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, parent company of Cox Communications, and named after the company’s founder. The funds will support a housing community called “La Posada Village,” with the goal of reducing homelessness in Santa Barbara County.

“DignityMoves is honored to be the recipient of a James M. Cox Foundation grant. We are incredibly grateful for this type of community support. Without partners like Cox, we cannot help as many people as we do,” said Jack Lorenz, Regional Advancement Director for DignityMoves.

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Mapping our Justice and Mental Healthcare System

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2024 • Comments Off

This coming Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors we will discuss a report showing that our County has a higher-than-average jail incarceration rate compared to the rest of California, and hear an update on efforts to better manage the population of the jail. The most basic service in government is public safety, but it does not make us safe when some people are ending up in jail, or coming back to it, because of a lack of mental health services. We have a moral imperative to improve the situation. But we also have a financial need as well.

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Tackling the Homelessness Crisis with Dignity

by Community Contributor • January 16, 2024 • Comments Off

(Jan. 12) we took another big step forward to helping our homeless neighbors get off the streets, and back on their feet, breaking ground on the third DignityMoves interim housing community, La Posada. Our crews are on track to finish this project and move the first residents in by this April.

This public-private partnership is the best of what we can do when we come together as a community. Like the Santa Barbara Street Village and Hope Village in Santa Maria, La Posada will have on-site services to help those coming off the streets, including mental healthcare, addiction services, career counseling, and caseworkers to help residents get “document ready” for permanent housing.

Bilingual report — Ventura County Board of Supervisors vote to support California State Association of Counties’ ‘AT HOME’ Plan

by Community Contributor • June 21, 2023 • Comments Off

VENTURA — In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, June 20, the Board of Supervisors agreed to adopt a resolution in support of a comprehensive plan to address homelessness put forth by the California State Association of Counties. The plan, titled ‘AT HOME’, focuses on establishing solutions to reduce homelessness throughout the state of California, with clear guidelines laid out for specific programs and responsibilities for the state, counties, and cities. Through adoption of the resolution, the County of Ventura joins 21 other counties that have shown their support and voted in favor of supporting CSAC’s ‘AT HOME’ Plan.

“This didn’t just happen overnight – we have been working with CSAC since 2018 on housing solutions,” shared District 3 Supervisor Kelly Long. “We feel that it’s very important to join in on this resolution for the ‘AT HOME’ Plan so we can address how we can secure the funding needed, ensure that it is sustainable, and make a big difference in our homeless count right now.”

United Way of Ventura County launches Forward Home Program

by Community Contributor • April 15, 2022 • Comments Off

United Way of Ventura County has officially launched its new Forward Home Program in partnership with the City of Oxnard, which assists City of Oxnard clients experiencing homelessness in successfully transitioning to stable housing.

UWVC provides a variety of services via the Forward Home Program, including collaborating with case managers as well as assisting clients in gathering and obtaining necessary documents, receiving credit counseling, applying for housing voucher programs, accessing additional community resources, and more.

United Way of Ventura County — Uniting Together

by Community Contributor • February 24, 2022 • Comments Off

Thanks to your continued generosity, your United Way has been able to navigate through these incredibly challenging times and, together, we’ve been able to continue serving those in need.

Because of your generosity, our homelessness initiative has exceeded expectations since its launch two years ago—permanently housing more than 150 individuals including families, seniors, and veterans. Earlier this month we held our second homelessness symposium, facilitating the important and necessary conversations needed to create housing solutions for our county’s unhoused community members.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura Santa Clara River Clean Up Effort

by Community Contributor • August 17, 2021 • Comments Off

We have heard from many of you having concerns about encampments of individuals facing homelessness in our County. We understand these problems have become especially acute in the Santa Clara River. In this notice, we want to share our current and future efforts, in partnership with the cities of Oxnard and Ventura, to address these challenges.

United Way of Ventura County — It’s the final challenge week, your donation NOW makes the difference!

by Community Contributor • August 9, 2021 • Comments Off

Today kicks off the FINAL challenge week for our Community Thrives fundraiser!

What are challenge weeks? Each challenge week, the top fundraisers are awarded with EXTRA grant funding … meaning your donation goes even further.

Are you able to help us reach our goal to support United to End Homelessness initiative?

Your donation helps another individual get one step closer to securing a stable place to call home. Donating now makes all the difference.

United Way of Ventura County — Our Community Thrives Fundraiser is LIVE and we need you!

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Two weeks left and we need your help!

United Way of Ventura County is participating in VC Star’s A Community Thrives fundraising challenge in order to raise funds for our United to End Homelessness initiative.

From July 19 – Aug. 13, your donation goes FURTHER. The more we raise, the closer we get toward an opportunity to receive additional grant support!

United Way of Ventura County — You can help us win this challenge week!

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Let’s finish this challenge week strong! We’re so appreciative for the surge of support this week toward our Community Thrives fundraiser to support our United to End Homelessness initiative. Let’s keep this momentum going!

With less than two weeks to go, every donation makes a big impact. Plus, depending on how much we raise in a challenge week (like this week) … we become eligible for additional grant funding.

We’re on a mission to house Ventura County. Who’s with us?

United Way of Ventura County — An exciting new resource to share …

by Community Contributor • May 3, 2021 • Comments Off

United Way of Ventura County is excited to share with you that we’ve created a website to exclusively cover our United to End Homelessness Initiative efforts. This website will be a central hub that features resources, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, tenant and landlord testimonials, resources and beyond.
The website will continue to evolve and expand as we develop more efforts related to this initiative.

May 22 — Youth Homelessness Film Screening w/ Filmmaker at Oxnard Performing Arts Center

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2021 • Comments Off

OPAC, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation, will host a free screening of the new documentary, Lost in America, on Saturday, May 22 at 7 pm at Plaza Cinemas in Downtown Oxnard. The event is free and open to the public and will include a Q&A with the filmmaker, Rotimi Rainwater, following the screening. The event is part of OPAC’s two-year programming series called Close to Home, a Community Conversation Spotlighting the People, Places, and Perspectives Surrounding Homelessness.

UWVC’s United to End Homelessness COVID-19 Rapid Response

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2020 • Comments Off

UWVC’s United to End Homelessness COVID-19 Rapid Response VENTURA — As a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) has mobilized to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness. In consultation and partnership with the County Executive…

Local Governments May Get $4.8 Million in State Aid to Combat Homelessness

by Community Contributor • November 6, 2018 • Comments Off

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Local governments may soon receive one-time funding from the state to provide direct assistance to homeless individuals and those at risk of becoming homeless. The County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors declared a homeless shelter…