Wonderful volunteers from Ventura County Environmental Health Division are Hannah Edmondson, PHN , Eva Reeder, PHN Manager for Public Health TB and CD departments, Judith Ahara, LVN, Luisandra Salazar, MOA III, Sandra Gipson, Clerical Supervisor I and Beatriz Castillo CHW. Photos by Michael Gordon
The 2017-2018 West Ventura Winter Warming Shelter opened on Thursday December 21 at the Ventura National Guard Armory located at 1270 Arundell Ave. The Winter Warming Shelter provides a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, and shower facilities for homeless persons seeking refuge during the winter months. Homeless persons can enter the Armory at 6:00p.m. every evening and may remain in the Armory up until 6:00a.m.
Ventura County Environmental Health Division was at the shelter providing TB clearance, flu shots and Hep A vaccinations to the clients. They are required to have a TB clearance within 3 days of shelter opening in order to stay. They provided to them the first few days for their convenience. Many have a difficult time getting in to a medical clinic to be seen.
The Oxnard Housing Department and the City of Ventura Community Development Department, together with the office of the Ventura County CEO, are once again partnering with the non-profit Downtown Ventura Organization (DVO), which acts as the shelter’s fiscal agent. The DVO has retained Advanced Tactical Training Institute to operate, manage, and provide security at the shelter.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted to contribute $120,000 to the shelter this year and the cities of Ventura and Oxnard $100,000 each.
Monetary donations to assist the shelter can be made on the DVO website (downtownventura.org) or by calling 641-1090.
The shelter was originally scheduled to open December 15, 2017. Due to the Thomas Fire, the opening was delayed when the armory facility became a staging center for military personnel days after the fire began.
