Thank you for your support at our annual benefit
​and throughout the year!

On Wednesday, July 25th at Cal State University Channel Islands, the Ventura County Housing Trust Fund (VCHTF) hosted “Housing Our Future”, a fundraising event to highlight the critical importance of affordable housing for our young adults, transitional-age foster youth, students, recent graduates, and young professionals. Their ability to stay, work, raise new families, and contribute to the future economy of this area is heavily influenced by finding an affordable place to live. The future of our schools, businesses and community also depends on our ability to attract and retain this young talent.

Recap and Results

• The event brought together about 170 policy makers, industry professionals and philanthropy-minded individuals for a garden reception, dinner, and program.
• Sponsor, attendee, and donor support helped make the evening a terrific success, enabling us to exceed our fundraising target and generating almost $50,000 to support our work in the coming year!
• Through our FUNdraising bingo board game, and with the generosity of retail businesses, board members and sponsors, 37 gift cards were donated to at risk young adults through the TAY Tunnel in Oxnard. They were so very grateful. TAY Tunnel is a one-stop center helping struggling young adults ages 18-25 with healthy lifestyle changes and independent living. The center is operated by Pacific Clinics with support from County Behavioral Health.
• Keynote speaker, Shahera Hyatt, Director of the California Homeless Youth Project gave a compelling address about the state of youth homelessness in California, policies and proposed legislation and the needs of homeless youth in California. She shared her direct experiences with at-risk teens and young adults, noting a myriad of reasons for their situation, consequences and needs. It was a moving and inspirational address, giving voice to these young people.
  
• A panel of 4 local young adults shared their personal struggles with housing here in Ventura County. These courageous and inspirational young adults come from varied family and educational backgrounds, but have all experienced significant housing instability such as living on the streets, motel hopping, couch-surfing, shelters and group homes. We appreciate the honesty and courage it took to share their story. 
• Event attendees got a chance to spin the bingo wheel and take home gift cards as well as bird house centerpieces from a raffle game. Auction items included chocolate, wine, art and a beautiful cake!
• Local girl scouts, young adults, and young-at-heart adults volunteered to make this evening possible.

Download event flyer (pdf)

We thank the following companies, organizations and individuals who generously gave as event sponsors and donors:

Major Underwriters ($5,000)
California Commercial Investment
City National Bank
Lloyd Butler Ranches
MUFG Union Bank

Foundation Sponsors ($2,500)
Brokaw Ranch and Brokaw Nursery
Leavens Ranches
McCarthy Construction
Montecito Bank & Trust
Pacific Western Bank
Williams Homes

Framework Sponsors ($1,000)
Blois Construction
California Lutheran University
CBC Federal Credit Union
City of San Buenaventura
City of Simi Valley
City of Thousand Oaks
County of Ventura
Housing Authority of San Buenventura

Building Block Sponsors ($500)
Dyer Sheehan Group Inc.
JDA West - Johnson Development
McAulay Family
McCune Foundation
Peoples' Self-Help Housing Corp
SL Leonard & Associates
Ventura Investment Co.
William Hezmalhalch Architects, Inc.

Table Sponsors ($250)
A Community of Friends
Many Mansions
Matilija Law
Plan B Wine Cellars
Southland Civil Engineering & Survey
VC Coastal Association of Realtors 

In-kind Sponsors
Housing Opportunities Made Easier
Institution Ale Co.
Pacific Business Times
VCHTF Board Members
Ventura County Office of Education

Gift Card and Auction Donors
A Community of Friends
B&B Hardware
Costco (Oxnard & Simi Valley)
Cynthia Sabatini
Darlene Gonzalez
Merewether Family
Pizza Man Dan's
Plan B Wine Cellars
Ralph's Grocery (Camarillo)
Sean Morreale
Southland Civil Engineering &Survey
Sprouts Market (Camarillo)
Staples (Camarillo)
The Habit
Trader Joe's (Camarillo)
VCHTF Board Members

Keynote Speaker - Shahera Hyatt, Director, California Homeless Youth Project
 
We are thrilled to have Shahera Hyatt as our event Keynote Speaker. She is the Director of the California Homeless Youth Project (CYHP), an initiative of the California Research Bureau focused on educating policymakers on the needs of homeless youth in California. Hyatt has authored several publications on the topic of youth homelessness including policy briefs on LGBT and sexually exploited youth, as well as the nation’s first state action plan on ending youth homelessness. Hyatt also serves as the Local Coordinator for Sacramento’s Homeless Youth Task Force. She received her master’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento in 2010. During the day she works to uplift the voices of marginalized youth, and at night she tells jokes at dive bars and comedy clubs all over Northern California. 

The CHYPproject is committed to bringing youth to the policy table and to informing policymakers, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders about the needs of unaccompanied homeless youth. It began from a 2006-08 street-outreach survey (“Voices from the Street: A Survey of Homeless Youth by Their Peers”) that employed 40 homeless or formerly homeless young people interviewing over 200 of their peers around the state and conducted focus groups of homeless youth in several cities. CHYP seeks to improve understanding of young people ages 12 to 24 who are on their own and the issues they face. These include family conflict and other reasons for being on the street, lack of shelter and education, health and mental health needs, and the effect of interactions with law enforcement agencies. The project highlights solutions for these youth by engaging them directly in research and policy discussions, and giving voice to their experiences and recommendations as well as those of researchers, practitioners, and policy experts.

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