Jeff Lambert, CEO of Ventura Housing, speaks with Our Ventura TV host, Sandra Siepak, about the organization’s long-standing history and its current efforts to provide affordable and stable housing in the city of Ventura.
Overview of Ventura Housing
- Mission and History: Established in 1949, the organization has spent over 75 years building and managing affordable housing. Their primary goal is to provide rental assistance and manage housing sites for those in need.
- Current Operations: They currently own and manage approximately 1,200 units across Ventura. They also oversee the Section 8 voucher program, which helps residents afford rent in both public and private sector housing.
- High Demand: There is a significant need for these services, with a Section 8 waitlist of about 9,000 people. Lambert notes that it can often take 10 to 12 years for an applicant to reach the top of the list.
Key Developments and Initiatives
- Valentine Road Apartments: This project involved converting a former La Quinta hotel into 134 units of permanent supportive housing. It specifically serves the most vulnerable members of the unhoused population, including those who are chronically homeless or have disabilities.
- Permanent Supportive Housing: Unlike transitional housing, these units are intended as long-term homes where residents have leases and access to on-site support services.
Targeting Specific Groups - Veterans: Partnerships like Ventura Springs provide dedicated units for veterans.
- Seniors: Over half of their properties serve seniors or individuals with disabilities.
- Foster Youth: Plans are underway to renovate historic school buildings to create housing specifically for emancipated foster youth.
Community Partnerships and Challenges
- Collaborative Effort: The organization works with over 120 partners, including the Salvation Army for food services, “City Kids” for youth mentorship, and the “Moving In Project” to help furnish apartments for new residents.
- Funding Hurdles: Lambert explains that because Ventura is an expensive area, federal funding often doesn’t fully cover the cost of available vouchers, leaving some subsidies unused while the waitlist remains long.
- Future Outlook: Ventura Housing is actively pursuing a “pipeline” of 300 additional units to help combat the ongoing affordability crisis in California.
TV broadcast week beginning 03/08/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com