The City Center is now a successful transitional living community in Ventura. First opened in 2010, The City Center gives homeless men, women and children a safe place to live while getting their lives stabilized.
During the Holiday Home Improvement day in December, several local businesses, organizations and volunteers spent the day painting, cleaning, repairing, planting and decorating The City Center, which currently has 65 people living there, including 37 children.
The City Center, a nonprofit, provides housing, counseling, and support services to homeless community members with a goal of transitioning towards self-sufficiency within one year. Jim Duran, Executive Director of The City Center, says, “Like many coastal communities throughout California, Ventura struggles with homelessness and vagrancy issues. Here in town we have a successful program that’s gaining momentum thanks to support from local businesses, churches, organizations and community members.” In 2016, nine formerly homeless families graduated from The City Center moving into independence and full employment.
The 2017 County of Ventura Homeless Count identified 1,152 homeless persons countywide, of those, 301 persons are in the city of Ventura — notably fewer than the 701 individuals counted in 2012.
Community members are encouraged to help support the individuals and families at The City Center by donating online at www.thecitycenter.org.
