Working to promote safe, decent, secure and affordable housing for all
Ventura County farm workers and their families since 2004.
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Dear friend,
With 2020 coming to a close, we wanted to reach out and wish you a happy new year! Although we were unable to have our "From Field to Fork" fundraiser dinner last year, we continued to work behind the scenes advocating for farmworker housing in Ventura County.
Check out our 2020 highlights:
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February 2020: "How Great is the Need? Developing a Comprehensive Action Plan for Farm Worker Housing in Ventura County"
Before COVID-19 times, we came together to hear Jennifer Coile, the program manager who helped lead the Farm Worker Housing Study and Action Plan in Salinas Valley and Pajaro Valley. We learned about the steps taken to initiate the study, who was involved, how it was financed, and the research methodology and process. Jennifer also gave an update on their Action Plan and progress toward meeting the objectives across jurisdictions and counties.
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June 2020: Ellen Brokaw House Farm Workers! Scholarship
Rosita Lopez
Channel Islands High School, 2018
Currently attending CSU, Monterey Bay
Paola Gonzalez
Santa Paula High School, 2016
Currently attending CSU, Channel Islands
Bryan Navarette
Channel Islands High School, 2020
Currently attending CSU, Long Beach
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Summer 2020: Somis Farm Worker Housing Project and Housing Element Advocacy
We continued to advocate for the proposed Somis Ranch farm worker housing project, a 360-unit farmworker housing complex with 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units. This development would include two 3,000 square foot community centers, tot lots/playgrounds, play fields and basketball courts.
In addition, we began to focus on our Housing Element advocacy work. City groups met with public officials providing comments and site ideas for the upcoming Housing Element and General Plans.
Every city and county in California is required to adopt, with public input, a Housing Element within the city or county General Plan, which must be updated every four to eight years. It is submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for approval. An effective housing element provides the conditions for developing and preserving an adequate supply of housing, including housing affordable to seniors, families and farm workers.
The process of adopting Housing Elements presents opportunities for significant public input and advocacy. Opportunities for verbal and/or written comment exist at every step of the Housing Element update process, which moves from initial draft preparation by staff and often consultants, to submission to the HCD for compliance review, to draft revision, and to final approval by the city council or board of supervisors.
We will continue to be an active participant in the Housing Element public comment process. To get involved in your community, contact info@housefarmworkers.org.
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Summer 2020: Cultivate Gratitude Campaign: 10 Years of "From Field to Fork"
We celebrated virtually what would have been our 10th "From Field to Fork" dinner by showing gratitude to all our F2F supporters on our social media channels. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube!
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August 2020: Farmworker Household Assistance Program
During this pandemic, we came together with a group of agricultural employers, farmworker advocates, and the Ventura County Community Foundation to address the urgent need to keep farmworkers from becoming homeless by establishing the Farmworker Household Assistance Program (FHAP), an idea that was first started by our founder, Ellen Brokaw. Funded by private donations and a generous grant of more than $3.5 million from the County of Ventura, this program was created to assist farm worker families who are struggling to pay rent and other essential household bills. The program received more than 4,000 applications. At this time, the program is distributing $1,000 grants to eligible farmworker families. Thank you to all who made this possible!
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September 2020: Said Goodbye to our Executive Director
We said goodbye to our Executive director, Alondra Serna. We are so grateful for all that she made possible for our organization. Thank you for all of the hard work!
We are currently conducting interviews and look forward to welcoming our new Executive Director in January 2021.
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October 2020: Updated Our Mission
After our annual board retreat, we decided to update our mission to include both farm workers and their families. This change emphasizes our commitment to help improve the lives of our local farmworker families.
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We look forward to continue to advocate for safe, decent, secure, and affordable housing for Ventura County farm workers and their families.
Your generous contribution to House Farm Workers! will enable us to promote construction of more housing projects.
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You can also donate by mailing a check to our office. Please make checks payable to House Farm Workers!.
Mail check to :
House Farm Workers!
PO Box 402
Santa Paula, CA 93061
All donations are tax-deductible and upon receiving your donation, we will send you an official acknowledgement letter with our Tax ID number.
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Contact
PO Box 402, Santa Paula, CA 93061
805.921.0430
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