Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the Area Housing Authority do?
3. How can we afford to provide housing for these people?
4. Doesn't subsidized housing bring down property values?
5. Is this strictly a government-funded program?
6. Where does private investment fit in?
7. Are residents involved in the upkeep of their homes?
8. How has Area Housing Authority changed since it started 20 years ago?
9. How can someone apply for assisted housing and how long is the wait?
10. How does one get more information?
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The goal of the Area Housing Authority is to quantitatively enhance and increase the supply of affordable housing. Instead of relying on traditional, albeit dwindling resources, we have challenged our local communities to address unmet housing needs with local initiatives. As Ventura County housing costs increase and low income housing availability diminishes, the Area Housing Authority's mission has evolved from its initial rental assistance program. A full gamut of ancillary sources are provided for and referred to. Our thrust is focused on the empowerment of younger families through education and job training to further self-sufficiency. It is hoped that our housing assistance programs will accommodate those persons until they can mainstream from reliance on publicly funded programs to self-reliance and self-sufficiency. In addition to developing housing opportunities, the Area Housing Authority has assisted the County of Ventura and the cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai and Thousand Oaks with Housing Rehabilitation Programs, specifically tailored to accommodate the quality preservation and revitalization of existing housing stock. We are pleased to share in the community pride as conventional bank loans, in conjunction with Community Development Block Grants, provide for home repairs and improvements. The Area Housing Authority has responded to the objective of the cities of Camarillo, Ojai, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley to further fair housing as a community commitment and policy in compliance with the national Fair Housing Law. The mutual goal is for all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex. national origin, family status, handicap or disability to be fully knowledgeable about their rights and responsibilities under state and federal Fair Housing Law. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 2. Who are the people served? |
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In our effort to serve the unmet housing needs of our Ventura County jurisdictions, our current program resources enable us to serve 350 low-rent conventional public housing families and 2532 families with rent subsidies in the private sector. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 3. How can we afford to provide housing for these people? |
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The Area Housing Authority's programs are largely funded through federal housing program allocations, appropriated by Congress, through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Selected communities also provide support through redevelopment and other funding sources. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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Public funded housing programs have received negative reviews based on distressed development in large metropolitan areas. The Area Housing Authority, in its commitment to the communities we serve, has developed and managed a superior housing product. We welcome community interested persons to tour our public housing sites. We share in the community pride by having our public housing developments enhance the community's and neighboring property values. Public housing residents have formed Resident Councils in order to become active participants in the management and policy formation of each housing community. The Area Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is proud to endorse resident initiatives for the empowerment of residents to mainstream into self-sufficiency. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 5. Is this strictly a government-funded program? |
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Traditional public housing is a federal government funded program. With reduced federal housing commitments for sorely needed new developments, the Area Housing Authority has assisted cities with cooperative ventures to provide affordable housing. State of California and federal low income housing tax credit funding is being realized to provide low-rent housing in Piru, affordability requirements are monitored on private investor developments to ensure compliance with bond-financed developments; technical rehabilitation services have been provided to Many Mansions, a non-profit agency, for the upgrade of existing rental units in City of Thousand Oaks. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 6. Where does private investment fit in? |
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The success of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly the Section 8 Program, is largely due to private sector landlords who participate in providing rentals for eligible persons to receive rent assistance. Tenants pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income as their rent portion. The Area Housing Authority contracts with the private sector landlords to provide HUD fair market rent subsidies that enable the tenant family to lease a house, apartment or mobile home at an affordable rate. The Voucher Program is the largest rental assistance shelter activity of the Area Housing Authority, providing assistance to 2532 families county-wide. The programs are an example of a public private partnership for low-income persons to be adequately housed in a soaring rent-price market. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 7. Are residents involved in the upkeep of their homes? |
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Residents of Area Housing Authority programs are under dwelling lease obligations to maintain their rental units at the same quality level as market-rate rentals. Annual inspections are performed by trained Area Housing Authority staff to ensure resident and landlord compliance with the Area Housing Authority policies and program requirements. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 8. How has Area Housing Authority changed since it started 20 years ago? |
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The Area Housing Authority has experienced tremendous growth in its 20 years of community service, From its inception in 1972, it has continued its mandate to provide decent, affordable shelter opportunities for low income persons. Initially the Area Housing Authority attended to 50 families under a lease program. Today the agency attends to more than 3117 families in our combined housing assistance programs, in both the public and private sector. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 9. How can someone apply for assisted housing and how long is the wait? |
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How to apply... The Area Housing Authority's main office at 1400 West Hillcrest Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320, and site offices in the cities of Fillmore, Ojai, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, are conveniently accessible for walk-in information inquiry and application assistance for all Area Housing Authority programs. Persons are advised to call our toll-free number for appointments with our technical trained staff persons, or to confirm site office business hours. Though some assisted housing programs are temporarily suspended from application intake, housing counselors are personally available to assist families with interim housing options and referrals to county-wide programs for emergency housing, food and medical services. How Long to Wait... It is unfortunate that all unserved shelter needs of our county's population cannot be immediately attended to. Despite our efforts to meet the growing shelter challenges of our client population, more needs to be done to increase housing availability for low income persons. We are privileged to be a part of a committed network of county-wide jurisdictions who are taking responsibility for housing as a regional concern. The Area Housing Authority is privileged to work with communities who are committed to maximizing federal and state government resources, while exploring and implementing initiatives to expand housing opportunities as a local responsibility. [ return to complete list of faq’s ]
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| 10. How does one get more information? |
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Contact the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura, located at: 1400 West Hillcrest Drive Telephone: [805] 480-9991. Within the 805 calling area, the toll-free number is 1-800-800-2123. Our TDD number for the hearing impaired is [8O5] 480-9119. Our Fax number is [8O5] 480-1021. |