You don’t have to go to a Tijuana refugee camp to find people who need help. It’s going to be a cold, wet night right here in Ventura County… (Three actions below)
Action #1: Today! – Saturday 1/5 – Help feed people at the new Emergency Shelter!
(This message is from Peggy Ayala-Rivera, Jan. 3rd.)
Good evening! I’m reaching out to you because I need your help.
With rain scheduled to start late Friday or early Saturday, we will be opening our Emergency Shelter at the National Armory located at 351 S. K St. across the street from the old OXNARD high school gym and I need your help to prepare some hot food and brought to the shelter by 5:30 p.m. if there is anyway possible you can prepare a tray of food like spaghetti or some other pasta to feed the homeless. salad, french bread for Saturday night I would truly appreciate it if interested to help please contact me Commissioner Peggy Rivera with the Commission on Homelessness here in our City@ 805-890-7414 as soon as possible…you can help make life a little better for those less fortunate…
Other things that are needed is paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils and toilet paper.
Thank you all so very much I truly appreciate your help.
Peggy Rivera
Indivisible Ventura responds… We are now shopping and cooking!
If you have a donation to drop off or need a pick up, please contact us at indivisibleventura@gmail.com
Location Map: – 351 S. K St.
Action #2: Volunteers and staff members are needed for the new shelter. Are you interested?
(From Carmen Ramirez, Oxnard City Council)
Can you help? “With the opening delayed because of an inability to find a nonprofit or private operator, Oxnard last month decided to hire five temporary staff members for the shelter and is completing the hiring process. In the meantime, it is seeking volunteers to help with a variety of shelter tasks. Anyone interested should call Mark Alvarado, the city’s homeless assistance coordinator, at 805-385-8044.“
Action #3 – “Annual Ventura County Count of Homeless Persons” volunteers! (Training: Jan. 17th or 18th, Count: Jan. 22nd)
Want to help with a “Day of Service” in your own community?
The County of Ventura needs our help to complete the Homeless Count on January 22, 2019 at sites all throughout Ventura County including: Ventura, Camarillo, Ojai, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, Fillmore, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Port Hueneme, Moorpark, and unincorporated Areas. This count is required to continue to receive crucial HUD support.
All volunteers will work in 3-4 person teams and will receive training on in recording the count. On Jan. 22nd, teams go out starting in the early morning through afternoon to places where homeless persons are known to gather. Most counters are in the field for a couple of hours at a time, and must be at least 18 years old, be able to walk around the community and have a cell phone to use for the survey.
Either sign up individually here or…
Join Indivisible Ventura’s team! Email us here with your name, email, phone #, and preferred shift on Jan. 22nd, either [6 am-12 noon] or [11am-5pm]. Tell us if you’re signing up with a friend. The morning shift always needs more people (6 am!!!), so please indicate if you’re flexible.
Training time options:
- Thursday January 17, 12 noon (Atrium Room) or 5:30PM (Community Meeting Room), Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Ventura. You need attend only one training. No RSVP required.
- Friday, January 18, from 9:30am to 10:30am, Ventura County Behavioral Health, 1911 Williams Drive, 2nd floor – Lake Tahoe training room, Oxnard
More information: contact Jennifer Harkey at (805) 658-4342
Background
If you’ve never seen the results of this count, go here to read the “2018 Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey: Final Report”. It gives a person-by-person picture on those in our community. How many live in emergency or transitional housing? How many live in their cars or in encampments? How many are at risk of becoming homeless? How many are children? How many are veterans? How many are lifelong Ventura residents? How many are homeless because of recent fires?
Knowledge is power. Not only does the count help us secure HUD funding, but it helps our community formulate the best solutions for our homeless neighbors.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 