Ventura injects more funding into cold weather shelter program

With an especially cold and wet winter, a temporary shelter program run by the city of Ventura and River Community Church needed a cash infusion to keep going.

The city approved an additional $60,000 from the general fund to continue the effort through the end of March.

"We are committed to providing safe and secure shelter to people experiencing homelessness in Ventura," said Akbar Alikhan, the acting city manager, in a statement. Alikhan approved the funds in late December.

The foul weather shelter plan, now in its third year, provides motel vouchers for unhoused residents. It becomes available when temperatures drop below 45 degrees or when it rains. The program started Dec. 1.

With temperatures expected to drop again, the program could be activated Monday.

The city used $25,000 of community development block grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay for this season's operations, said Leona Rollins, housing services manager for the city. The amount from HUD varies from year to year.

With this winter's heavy rains and cold snaps, the federal funds were all used up, she said, so more money was needed to extend the program.

"Without this additional funding, we would have not been able to open the foul weather shelter program as of the first week of January," Rollins said.

The program was launched because there was nowhere for homeless people to go when the weather turned bad, Rollins said.

"Those that suffer from things like chronic health and medical conditions, it's very difficult for them to navigate outside sleeping on the streets or parking lots," Rollins said.

The shelter plan is activated 48 hours before temperatures are projected to drop below 45 degrees or when there is one-quarter of an inch of rain.

The city reserves about 20 motel rooms in Ventura and gives priority to homeless people age 65 and older or who live with chronic health conditions. Rooms are located at Motel 6 on Harbor Boulevard and three sites on Main Street: Bayshore Inn, Loop Motor Lodge and Mission Bell.

To get a voucher when the program is activated, people must stand in line from 5-6 p.m. at River Community Church at 859 E. Santa Clara St. The voucher includes a room and three meals a day.

When people check in at the church, their information is entered into a computer system that helps them find additional resources. All participants are offered services but not all want help, Rollins said.

People who aren't able to get a voucher or don't want one can get a stay-warm pack and a hot meal ranging from meatloaf to chicken. The stay-warm packs include a sleeping bag, wool blanket, tarp, beanie, gloves and other items, Rollins said.

Since December, the program has given out more than 2,000 meals, distributed about 80 stay-warm packs and helped about 150 people receive shelter, Rollins said.

How to help

The city is not running the program alone. Community volunteers and donations have also been essential.

To make it easier for people to donate, Rollins came up with the idea to create an Amazon wish list at the online retailer's registry. People can pick from pre-selected items like jackets and sleeping bags that are shipped to River Community Church.

"We've actually had more than 100 items purchased on (the) Amazon wish list thus far," Rollins said. "That's a great success."

Volunteers, in particular ones with vehicles, are also needed to assist when the program is activated, Rollins said.

Councilman Jim Duran, a pastor at the church, has been involved with the program since the beginning. Since being elected to the council, he has trained other people to help with day-to-day operations.

"I hate to say that I took a step back because I’m passionate about what we're doing and it is at our church," Duran said.

Last year, the shelter was activated about three times. This year, it's been activated eight times and for multiple nights, Duran said.

"I'm so thankful we were able to get more funding for that," Duran said.

Donation and volunteer information can be found on the city's website at cityofventura.ca.gov by typing "foul weather shelter plan" into the search bar at top. The page includes a link to the program's Amazon wish list.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura injects more funding in cold weather shelter program