VENTURA — United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) has been awarded two grants totaling $2.1 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 6 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 county-wide 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. Through HHAP Youth Set-Aside funding, UWVC was awarded $198,000 to support Transitional Age Youth (TAY), including $88,000 for Rapid Rehousing and $110,000 for Homelessness Prevention services. These funds will help unaccompanied youth achieve housing stability and prevent homelessness.
“This significant funding will enhance United Way’s efforts to provide permanent housing solutions and supportive services for people and families experiencing homelessness in Ventura County,” said Mitchel Sloan, president and CEO.
United Way’s United to End Homelessness Ventura County Initiative has served more than 1,000 people, housing 561 families and singles for a total of 1072 individuals. In February 2024, homelessness prevention became a crucial addition, requiring services to ensure families and individuals can stay housed. Government funding in the form of grants has been the key to ensuring the program has the resources necessary to serve the homeless in Ventura County. To date, 337 families and 768 individuals have received prevention services. These successes reflect the effectiveness of programs like United to End Homelessness Ventura County and underscore the importance of continued investment in housing solutions and supportive services. United Way, working with 134 service providers in Ventura County, maintains a 97.5% housing retention rate, a testament to the team’s commitment to not only getting people housed but keeping them housed.
Two recently assisted clients shared, “…The biggest support was that United Way gave me a place to live for my kids and I as a single mom raising them on my own. My case manager has been very supportive and amazing in guiding me through this process, and “I felt lost and unsure of what to do, but United Way staff supported me every step of the way…for the first time in a long while, I don’t feel alone.”
To learn more about the United to End Homelessness Ventura County Initiative and how to get involved, please email lepreferrals@vcunitedway.org
About United Way of Ventura County
Since 1945, United Way of Ventura County has advanced the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. United Way identifies the root causes of poverty and works strategically to solve them by building alliances across all sectors, funding targeted programs and advocating for change. For more information about United Way of Ventura County, visit www.vcunitedway.org.