Looking to the Future of Housing
Sacheen Swan, Civil Law Clerk, County of Ventura - County Counsel
“The future is the result of our collective intention now.”
~ Nicholas Deitch, Architect, RRM Design Group
Last Friday Ventura County Leadership Academy Cohort XXXI had our fourth session covering issues of housing and homelessness in Ventura County. The high cost of housing and the number of homeless citizens in our County is generally agreed to be an ongoing crisis with broad ramifications for our community. I was surprised, therefore, to finish the day feeling so inspired and hopeful about the future.
Six incredible professionals took time away from their work to share their insights, experience, and vision with us: Jeffrey Lambert, CEO of Ventura Housing; Scott Kolwitz, Senior Planner with the City of Thousand Oaks; Dawn Dyer, CEO of Dyer Sheehan Group, Inc.; Nicholas Deitch, Registered Architect, Principal with RRM Design Group; Jennifer Harkey, Continuum of Care Director for County of Ventura; and Tracy Miller McAulay, Housing Solutions Director with the County of Ventura.
The day included the opportunity to tour two fantastic projects serving our community’s low-income families and homeless individuals. Westview Village is a lovely development on the west end of town. Boasting beautiful views of the mountains on two sides, Westview Village is a community of 286 units housing approximately 800 people, including 450 children. With a community garden, onsite childcare services, and a community center, Westview Village provides desperately needed affordable housing in a community that residents can be proud of.
We also toured the newly opened Valentine Road Apartments located near Valentine Road and Victoria Avenue in Ventura. The remodeled motel has residents living in two of its four buildings, with the other two buildings slated to open soon. This incredible project is moving homeless individuals off the street and into newly created studio apartments. With onsite managers and case workers, the Valentine Road Apartments provide the support needed to keep these individuals in secure, permanent housing. Projects such as this one have reduced Ventura County’s homeless population by 18.5% since 2023.
In the end, what struck me most deeply was the sentiment expressed by local architect Nick Deitch when he said, “The future is the result of our collective intention now.” The problems that we are currently living with in Ventura County did not arise overnight. They are the result of collective decisions made over many decades, if not centuries. The solutions to those problems will also take time. But if we can envision a better future for our County and all its residents, then our collective will can bring that vision to reality.