Housing Trust Fund Ventura County set another fundraising record at its 4th Annual Compassion Campaign. With a strong showing of community leaders in attendance, the organization exceeded last year’s record setting fundraising high. Supported in part by Keystone Sponsors City National Bank and HOPE (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), the Museum of Ventura County provided the perfect back drop for this year’s theme, HOME MADE: Fund It + Build It + Live It, which featured three museum-quality exhibits that immersed guests into a learning experience, which highlighted through sight and sound what it takes to fund, build, and live in safe, equitable, and affordable homes in Ventura County.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced that the nonprofit has been awarded a $1.5M grant from the County of Ventura’s general fund for the development of affordable housing throughout the community and another $891,059 from the U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund Equitable Recovery Program. This combined $2,391,059 has the ability to be matched dollar for dollar by the State of California’s Proposition 1 Local Housing Trust Fund, bringing over $4 million to Ventura County in support of developing more affordable apartments and homes.

The process to receive funds from the national Equitable Recovery Program was highly competitive. Housing Trust Fund VC was the only Housing Trust Fund in the state to receive an award. In total, 696 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) from across the country requested a total of $7.69 billion, which is nearly 4.4 times the amount of funding that was available through this program. “This is a huge accomplishment that demonstrates the serious role we take in managing and expanding our financial resources for the production of safe, equitable, affordable housing,” said Tracy McAulay, Housing Trust Fund VC Board Chair. 

Housing Trust Fund VC will leverage these County and Federal funds with matching funds from the State of California Prop 1 Local Housing Trust Fund, and other private and charitable sources, to bring even more funding to the county for the development of new affordable homes. In a letter of support presented to the county from the newly formed Ventura County Housing Coalition (VCHC), it was noted that year after year, the annual progress reports (APR) published by the state’s Housing and Community Development (HCD) department show how the rate of production for low-income units falls short of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) targets. Unfortunately, this means the new units being produced in the county are by and large set at rents that are unaffordable to low-income households.

“Since 2013, we’ve helped to fund the creation of 1,120 affordable apartments and homes in Ventura County. Sadly, however our county is #1 in the state and #2 in the nation experiencing the worst housing shortage. We’re more than 31,000 units short of the need.” Braunschweiger refers to a study, “Housing Underproduction in the U.S. 2022” released by Up for Growth, a nonprofit research group. “We are honored that the County and Federal government see the need in our community and trust Housing Trust Fund VC with helping to solve the problem. These funds will go a long way, especially with the ability to double them through Prop 1, towards meeting the housing affordability shortage.”

To learn more and get involved in helping to solve the housing crisis in Ventura County, Housing Trust Fund VC is hosting Compassion Campaign 2023 – “HOME MADE: Fund It + Build It + Live It” on Thursday, May 11th at the Museum of Ventura County. Three museum-quality exhibits will invite guests to stroll through and learn what it takes to fund, build, and live in safe, equitable, and affordable homes in Ventura County. For tickets, please visit www.housingtrustfundvc.org/2023cc-tickets.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County announced today that Camarillo-based RAIN Communities, Inc. President David Kohlmeier will emcee a powerful on-stage conversation during its annual fundraising Compassion Campaign on Thursday, May 11th, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County. This year’s Compassion Campaign theme, HOME MADE: Fund It + Build It + Live It, features three museum-quality exhibits that invite guests to learn what it takes to fund, build and live in safe, equitable, and affordable homes in Ventura County. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, click here.

In 2006, Kohlmeier found himself and his then five-year-old son suddenly homeless. He credits his newfound faith and discovery of RAIN Transitional Living Center to set them on the road to security through access to safe, affordable housing paired with supportive transportation, healthy meals, job skills training, parenting counseling, and more. Now 17 years later, David’s son is a successful college student as David presides over RAIN Communities, Inc. (www.raincommunities.org) as its President and Chairman of the Board. “We are honored that David is leading our Home Made conversation,” stated Housing Trust Fund VC CEO, Linda Braunschweiger. “It’s important that we all see the faces of housing insecurity and hear their stories. Only then can we truly understand the life-changing impact that providing safe and affordable homes has on the adults and children of our community.”

Kohlmeier will be joined on-stage at this year’s Compassion Campaign by Braunschweiger as together they chat with Jennifer Harkey, Program Director for Ventura County’s Continuum of Care Alliance (www.venturacoc.org) and another local affordable housing resident who will share her journey as a senior in need of and ultimately finding an affordable home in Santa Paula.

Sponsored in part by City National Bank, HOPE (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), and Ventura Investment Company, Compassion Campaign 2023 - HOME MADE: Fund It + Build It + Live It, seeks to fully immerse guests into three hands-on exhibits complete with audio, video, and tactile items that tell the story of what it takes to fund, build and support residents who live in affordable Ventura County homes. Guests will be provided silent headphones as they are invited to first visit the Community West Bank sponsored FUND IT exhibit where they will learn that funding affordable housing is much like making lasagna. Moving on to the BUILD IT exhibit, sponsored by McCarthy Companies, guests will “virtually” walk through a beautiful affordable community to experience all that goes into developing these homes. Finally, guests approach the LIVE IT exhibit finding themselves at a kitchen table witnessing the positive impact affordable housing has had on residents’ lives as they tell their stories.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announces a $1,100,000 acquisition loan approved by its Board for funding to Many Mansions for the Aspire Apartments in Oxnard set to begin construction in 2024. The nonprofit had previously approved and funded a $250,000 pre-development loan back in January 2020. This brings the total funding from Housing Trust Fund VC to $1,350,000 in support of this development.
 
Aspire Apartments will consist of 56 one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedroom units, including a manager's unit, for a total of 88 apartments. Residents, comprised of extremely and very low-income families and individuals, and homeless and disabled individuals, will enjoy a community center, laundry facility, common area kitchenette, and recreational space. Uniquely, the second floor of the building will feature an outdoor community green space complete with BBQ and picnic area to help build an inclusive neighborly environment. Additionally, Oxnard Development Commission Successor Agency has partnered in this project to acquire and develop a pocket park that will be accessible to the public.
 
“This block in Downtown Oxnard has long been a mixture of unused buildings, half vacant lots, and an encampment of people who made homes from what they had,” commented Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. “In a few years, the Aspire and Central Terrace apartments will bring 173 affordable housing apartments to this block, and the residents who struggled to make shelter in the empty lots will have the chance to find peace within a safe and comfortable home.” Braunschweiger refers to a neighboring affordable residence development, Central Terrace Apartments, which Housing Trust Fund VC has also supported with a $1.1 million pre-construction loan.
 
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County celebrates 10 years of lending in 2023, having committed or funded $26 million helping to create 1,120 affordable apartments and homes in Ventura County since 2013. The nonprofit invites the community to its Annual Compassion Campaign – a unique guest immersion. “Home Made: Fund It + Build It + Live It” invites guests to stroll through three powerful exhibits at the Museum of Ventura County that will showcase how safe, equitable, and affordable homes are funded, built, and lived in within Ventura County. This event is sure to sell-out as it did last year. Tickets available here.

​Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) will host their fourth annual Compassion Campaign on May 11, 2023, from 5PM-9PM, in-person at the Museum of Ventura County. Sponsored in part by Ventura County Credit Union, this year promises to be another memorable evening as guests of COMPASSION CAMPAIGN – HOME MADE: FUND IT + BUILD IT + LIVE IT are invited to stroll through three powerful exhibits showcasing how safe, equitable, and affordable homes are funded, built, and lived in within Ventura County. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, click here.
 
With the Museum of Ventura County as a backdrop, guests will be fully immersed into three hands-on exhibits complete with audio, video, and tactile items that tell the story of what it takes to fund, build and support residents who live in affordable Ventura County homes. Guests will be provided silent headphones as they are invited to first visit the FUND IT exhibit where they will learn that funding affordable housing is much like making lasagna. Moving on to the BUILD IT exhibit guests will “virtually” walk through a beautiful affordable community to experience all that goes into developing these homes. Finally, guests approach the LIVE IT exhibit finding themselves at a kitchen table witnessing the positive impact affordable housing has had on residents’ lives as they tell their stories.
 
“Last year’s Compassion Campaign was a huge success as we hosted our first ever immersive experience,” stated Housing Trust Fund VC CEO, Linda Braunschweiger. “Guests shared that being immersed really helped them truly feel the experience of facing housing insecurity. This year we’re excited to offer guest engaging exhibits to tell the story that when we all work together as a collective community we can create more safe and affordable homes.”
 
Housing Trust Fund VC’s annual Compassion Campaign draws a diverse crowd of decision makers, community leaders, change makers and advocates for housing, mental health, homelessness, farmworkers, foster youth, the disabled community, seniors, and more. This year’s unique immersive experience is certain to sell out as sponsors are seen as active leaders in strengthening our community by positively impacting lives through supporting the development of safe and equitable homes in Ventura County. For more information on how to become a Compassion Campaign sponsor click here.

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.

Ventura County ranked first as experiencing the worst housing shortage in the nation according to a study released by nonprofit research group Up for Growth. Short 31,000 units, Ventura County is part of a nationwide trend that saw housing underproduction double between 2012 and 2019. The study did not include a 25% increase in the county’s homeless population since the beginning of the pandemic. As the housing crisis continues to worsen, new approaches are necessary to provide affordable housing to more people.

Addressing the high cost of land is one of the most direct ways to make building affordable housing easier and faster. Between 2012 and 2017, the value of land used for single-family housing in the United States rose at a rate nearly four times higher than inflation, according to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. A community land trust allows different sectors to join together to identify and secure land as a lasting asset on which to create and maintain permanently affordable housing developments, providing opportunities for generations of lower income families and individuals. 

Housing Land Trust Ventura County was formed in 2021 as a community land trust that works to acquire donated land to preserve for affordable housing development by removing the most cost-prohibitive part of building affordable homes, the high cost of land. 
Ventura County has at least two different types of Land Trusts. Housing Land Trust VC accepts land for development of affordable housing in perpetuity. Ventura Land Trust, on the other hand. preserves land for open space such as the Ventura hillsides.  Both play a vital role in our community’s long-term viability.

In April 2021, Housing Land Trust Ventura County received a donation of land valued at $840,000 from the city of Oxnard for the development of what will be The Oxnard Navigation Center at Casa de Carmen. The project is being led by developer Community Development Partners and will provide 55 affordable housing units, 110 shelter beds, and 24-hour supportive services to the city's homeless population. Housing Trust Fund Ventura County provided a loan of $800,000 to support pre-development costs associated exclusively with the 55 affordable housing units. Eliminating the cost of land and providing pre-development funding directly contributes to the Navigation Center’s ability to give time and resources to the people that need them most.

The land donation was also included as part of $5 million raised locally by Housing Trust Fund VC, which was matched by the California Department of Housing and Community Development under State Proposition 1 Local Housing Trust Fund matching grant program. This marks a first-ever achievement in Ventura County where the value of donated land is included in the state match, paving the way for future land donations and creative approaches to solving the housing crisis. 

In November, the city of Thousand Oaks approved the donation of 3.87 acres of surplus land, formerly the site of Hillcrest Christian School, to Housing Trust Fund VC/Housing Land Trust VC. The land, valued at $10 million, will be developed by People’s Self-Help Housing into nearly 80 affordable for-purchase townhomes. Housing Land Trust VC is uniquely positioned to ensure each property remains affordable for all future homeowners with a 99-year lease that includes a pay-it-forward deed restriction through the community land trust. 

As more people are priced out of their homes, those affected often include our most essential workers. In 2021, the Brookings Institution found that essential workers make up nearly half of all earners in low-paid occupations. Without affordable housing essential workers are forced to commute from neighboring cities and counties, affecting everything from traffic to the economy of Ventura County.

Affordable housing strengthens our community by creating opportunities for residents to build quality lives. Providing both affordable rental units and deed-restricted affordable homes for-purchase gives residents a sense of permanence that creates stability and an opportunity to grow. When residents have the stability they need, they have the freedom to live, work, shop and give back to a community they feel invested in.

Housing Land Trust Ventura County is committed to finding new ways to make affordable housing even easier, starting with the high cost of land. By taking new approaches to an old problem, we can work to solve the housing crisis and provide affordable housing more effectively and efficiently, because everyone deserves a home.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County invites anyone interested in learning about affordable housing impacts and solutions to its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Register free at www.housingtrustfundvc.org/2023annualmeeting. Recognizing, “Lives Connected Through One Common Need,” the nonprofit is hosting two recognized experts on affordability of homes in California – 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.
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Dr. Green will be showcasing the “2022 Multifamily Real Estate Forecast,” and Mr. Greenlee will be discussing the newly passed “Homelessness and Housing Solutions Tax” on transfers of residential and commercial real property valued in excess of $5 million within the city of Los Angeles.