Ventura's River Haven 'tiny shed' campground for homeless closes after nearly 20 years

When River Haven in Ventura unexpectedly closed in early October, an innovative program that has helped homeless people for nearly two decades was gone.

River Haven offered small domes, later replaced by sheds, at a campground setting off Harbor Boulevard. It was Ventura's only such legal, self-governing site. The city and Turning Point Foundation, the nonprofit that managed the grounds, ended the unique program on Oct. 1.

It had helped hundreds of people over the years, officials said.

The tiny-home community was shuttered in part due to recent powerful storms as well as safety issues involving nearby encampments, said Jason Meek, executive director of Turning Point.

There were 26 sheds on-site and some were damaged beyond repair, Meek said.

"We had some exceptionally heavy rains this year that posed some real safety concerns," Meek said. "The way it's set up, it's somewhat off the grid, and it's several yards through soft, soft sand and dirt just to get to the actual tiny sheds."

Former Ventura City Manager Rick Cole, who was a proponent of River Haven when he became the city's chief executive in 2004, said it was inevitable the facility would close.

"It wasn't designed to be a permanent institution in Ventura," Cole said. "It's remarkable it was so long-lived and successful."

The cluster of tiny homes was meant to help people who had been living in tents in the Santa Clara River bed.

It was an early innovation that turned out to be the right size for the people who started it and for others who followed, Cole said. The intended goal was to get people into permanent housing.

People without housing sometimes need a reason to get up in the morning and be productive, he said, and River Haven's structure provided support.

"It really is bleak and miserable for unhoused people to overcome that, and community is one of the most powerful tools," Cole said.

Nonetheless, he felt River Haven had run its course.

"It was really meant to save some people's lives in a wet winter many years ago," Cole said.

Off the beaten path

River Haven allowed clients to stay for 24 months while working on a transition to permanent housing, said Jennifer Harkey, a project director for the county of Ventura.

“The program was successful by providing a safe space for people to get off of the streets and work on a housing plan,” Harkey wrote in an email. “Several people were able to move into permanent supportive housing from this project, thanks to the support of Turning Point’s staff.”

Located on East Harbor Boulevard near Spinnaker Drive, just east of the Ventura Harbor, the space is not visible from Harbor Boulevard. A curved, dirt trail leads to the now-empty grounds.

On a recent Friday afternoon, Christian Montijo, 50, said he was one of the people helped by the program and lamented its loss. He stood on an empty dirt lot across the street from Mariner's Liquor on Harbor Boulevard, trying to light a fire to cook a meal.

"Being in a living situation like this where you have your own little place for I don't know how many years...just to be placed right back into a shelter?" Montijo said. "That's not what I wanted. They told me when they came here they were going to assist me with housing."

Montijo, who is battling drug and alcohol addiction, said he paid $300 a month since 2019 to stay at River Haven, which he found expensive. He's currently living in the river bottom, trying to figure out his next move since he doesn't want to stay at a shelter.

"It's not that easy for me," Montijo said. "When you're dealing with (addiction), that's probably why I'm in the situation I'm in."

Judy Alexandre, chair of the Ventura Social Services Task Force, said River Haven was a special place for its residents. The task force is comprised of organizations and faith-based groups that work with the homeless population.

“When people have lived on the street for years, the type of housing they need and the type of support they need is different than for some people who have been unhoused for six months to a year,” Alexandre said.

River Haven provided residents with more than shelter.

“They were in a community,” Alexandre said. “There was a place where they could cook that was safe and clean. A place where they could sit with others, a place to be out of the elements. So it was a wonderful step that will be missed.”

Problems nearby

During Ventura County's annual homeless count in January, some 644 homeless residents were tallied in the city of Ventura, including those housed in shelters. Of the total, 452 people were unsheltered.

Meek, the Turning Point director, said at times there were 200 to 400 people at nearby encampments surrounding River Haven, creating other challenges.

"I'm not trying to paint a negative connotation on these individuals, but several of them do have issues with substance abuse and criminal activity and there were real concerns about that," he said.

There wasn't on-site management at the facility 24 hours a day, he said, and threats toward staff were increasing.

"You can only monitor so much," Meek said. "There were some threats of violence, and we're trying to keep our people safe."

One to four staff members would work during a shift, he said, and they provided services including substance abuse counseling and peer support.

Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler said some people living in the nearby encampments had drug and other issues and would “infiltrate” River Haven. Police and firefighters would have to respond to medical issues caused by substance abuse, he said.

One-of-a-kind program

When River Haven opened in late 2004, the city did not have a dedicated shelter. At the time, it was a campsite at Emma Wood State Beach and moved to its final location in 2006.

Raising funds for River Haven has been a challenge.

The program was not eligible for county Continuum of Care grant money because it does not meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards for emergency shelter or interim housing, said Harkey, the county project director.

The community was funded partly by the city of Ventura and Turning Point Foundation’s donors. The nonprofit raises money from donations, sponsors and grants to fund all of its programs, according to the nonprofit's tax filings.

The city provided Turning Point with financial support to hire and retain a case manager and operating costs for the site using federal Community Development Block Grant funding and Measure O dollars.

Each year, Ventura allocated between $25,000-$30,000 in grants and between $40,000-$60,000 from Measure O. Measure O, passed by voters in 2016, authorized a half-cent tax sales to help pay for infrastructure repairs and city services.

River Haven residents paid about $300 a month.

Future unclear

At the time of its closure, 14 residents lived at the facility and were offered safe and stable housing. Most of them accepted, Tuning Point's Meek said.

“There were some people that weren’t thrilled about leaving, that’s for sure,” he said. “We made sure that every safety net was in place, that an individual did not have to end up homeless.”

Schindler, the police chief, said he is in favor of River Haven closing because there is already a homeless shelter in the city, a former hotel is being converted into permanent supportive housing and there are other county venues to help homeless residents.

Alexandre, of the social services task force, said there’s a big need for another facility like River Haven. But it would need a full-time case manager, site manager and a weather-safe location, she said.

The city doesn't have plans for the location at this point, said Leona Rollins, Ventura's housing services manager.

"While the city of Ventura is actively seeking grants and funding opportunities to enhance interim shelter options for individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness, there are no immediate plans to utilize the same location due to safety concerns," she said in an email.

The city is collaborating with the county Health Care and Human Services agencies to transition individuals from nearby encampments into interim sheltering and permanent housing, Rollins said.

Ventura is also partnering with the Continuum of Care for a funding application to expand case management and street outreach to connect individuals to more shelter options and put them on the path to permanent supportive housing, she said.

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's River Haven 'tiny shed' campground for homeless closes