In Ventura County, the median gross rent is $1,854, according to Census.gov (2016-2020). For college students, this can be a crushing obstacle to fulfilling their educational goals. When Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill No. 183 in June, approving more than $542 million for the construction of affordable student housing, Ventura College was honored to be among the 11 recipients.

The college will receive over $62 million, which will fund apartment-type student housing to provide over 300 beds in 95 units with rental costs ranging from $400-$900 per month.

“Access to affordable housing continues to be an issue that California must address,” said State Assemblymember Steve Bennett (District 37). “Students are particularly impacted, and in this year’s state budget, we were able to direct funding to colleges and universities across the state to help address that impact. I know Ventura College’s new housing will enable hardworking students access to a safe and affordable place to live.”

The funding comes at a critical time, as 18% of Ventura College students experience housing insecurity, defined as having issues with affordability, safety, quality or housing loss. A student housing marketing and demand analysis created for Ventura College determined that students have experienced increased costs and challenges in finding housing.

All three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District — Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College — received funding through AB 183. Moorpark College and Oxnard College were awarded $250,000 and $249,000, respectively, for proposals to research the feasibility and planning of future affordable student housing on their campuses.

The Ventura College housing project will be located on campus property and is expected to break ground in 2023.

“California has made incredible strides in passing AB 183. This funding will provide affordable student housing opportunities and is a game changer in helping students meet their academic goals,” said Kim Hoffmans, president of Ventura College.

Ventura County Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) is excited to announce the launch of the new Ventura County Works Hub, a virtual call center and online resource hub where job seekers will be navigated to the appropriate services offered by the Workforce Development Programs and Partners across Ventura County.

“WDBVC believes our new Ventura County Works Hub will help job seekers easily connect with our resources and our partner’s resources,” explained Norman Albances, Assistant Director WDBVC. “We recognized that we needed job seekers to have easier access to our services. Therefore, job seekers can call, fill out a form, or chat with our Navigators who will then provide an individualized assessment so they can connect them to real-time programs and services, all at no cost.”

August reporting by CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/august-2022-jobs-report-.html) showed the unemployment rate climbed to 3.7%, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than expectations.  Wages rose 5.2% from a year ago, slightly lower than estimated, and the biggest sector gains were in professional and business services, health care, and retail.

Just in time to meet the increased job placement demands, the new Ventura County Works Hub will aid job seekers with the individualized services and resources needed. Jobseekers can call 805-648-WORK (648-9675), or visit https://workforceventuracounty.org

“It’s an exciting time in the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County’s 40-year history,” said Rebecca Evans, Executive Director. “This new resource allows us to easily help those in need of a career change, job training and certification by bringing the service to them, all at no cost to our community.”

Staff are on standby M-F 8-12 noon and 1-5 pm, with services available in both English and Spanish.  Individuals can also access the live chat function on the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County’s website to connect with services and support.

In other Workforce news Stephen Yeoh has been elected as chair and Sandy Smith as vice-char. Yeoh and Smith will serve one-year terms. 

Stephen Yeoh, who joined the board in 2016, is the Chief Peace of Mind Officer at Un1teee, an IT service provider located in Thousand Oaks with clients in the healthcare, finance, and legal industries.  He served on the board of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a volunteer instructor for the Central Coast Chapter of the Project Management Institute.  

Smith was appointed to WDB in 2020. He is a project manager at Sespe Consulting, Inc., an engineering, land use and environmental company based in Ventura.  Smith, a former Ventura city council member, is currently a Senior Adjunct Instructor at Cal Lutheran University. He is a long-time participant in non-profits that focus on sustaining this county’s quality of life. “I’m looking forward to working with staff and our board in our continued efforts to promote innovative workforce programs and institutions that offer all our residents an opportunity for a higher quality of life,” says Smith. 

Members of the WDB include leaders from business, economic development, education, labor, government, and community-based organizations.