Did you know there is a body of volunteers in the county of Ventura dedicated to investigating public complaints about county agencies, city governments and special districts such as water, schools and harbors?

The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury is an investigatory panel of 19 citizens from all backgrounds that operates as a public watchdog over the city and county governments.

The Grand Jury is authorized to investigate complaints about government mismanagement, verify that pubic funds are properly accounted for and legally spent and investigate the policies, practices and processes of county or city departments in order to improve the efficiencies and effectiveness of our

government.

Each year the Grand Jury reports the findings and recommendations that result from these investigations. These reports are made public by posting on the Grand Jury website at http://grandjury.countyofventura.org.Elected officials and board members whose departments are the focus of an investigation must respond within 90 days. Their responses are also posted to the website.

Complaint forms in English and Spanish may be downloaded from the Grand Jury website ( http://grandjury.countyofventura.org) and submitted by fax or mail to the address on the form. All complaints are kept confidential.

Do you belong to a group that invites speakers to it’s meetings? The Ventura County Grand Jury conducts an ongoing speakers bureau and outreach program. Service organizations, community groups, non-profits and other groups are invited to request a presentation by current grand jurors.

The civil Grand Jury does not pursue criminal cases or hear evidence in courtrooms. This all volunteer “public watchdog” group serves as an independent agent for the citizens of Ventura County. It is their responsibility to investigate complaints from the public, write reports, and make recommendations about all components of local government such as city councils, school districts, jails, hospitals, harbors and water districts. The Grand Jury can investigate issues ranging from alleged government violations of city and county codes to disaster preparedness, contracting procedures, health and safety issues and most processes, policies and practices of all departments or agencies within the cities and county of Ventura.

The Grand Jury issues an annual report on it’s findings and recommendations. Reports of Grand Jury investigations and responses from investigated agencies and departments can be found on the Grand Jury website at http://grandjury.countyofventura.org. Public complaint forms can be found on the site as well.

To learn more or schedule a date for a presentation please call the Grand Jury at (805) 477-1600 or complete a speaker’s bureau request form that can be found on the website.

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) recently honored the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) with the 2019 Award of Merit in the Resident and Client Services category for the Housing Plus program partnership with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA).

Housing Plus provides case management services to older adults, veterans and individuals with disabilities who reside in properties owned or managed by HACSB, comprising about 60 percent of HACSB residents. “We serve a vulnerable population. This program helps to ensure that these residents receive assistance to mitigate issues that may lead to eviction. It also helps residents connect to vital services that support well-being and success in maintaining housing,” said Denise Wise, CEO of HACSB.

“This initiative connects multiple agencies to address a variety of needs in one place with one coordinated approach that benefits all involved. We are proud to connect our residents with providers who can be a safety net of resources for people in need,” Wise said.

The VCAAA, under contract with HACSB, provides short-term case management and referrals to other services and consults with HACSB staff to ensure residents can access the services they need, such as mental health, nutrition, healthcare and crisis intervention.

NAHRO President Carl S. Richie, Jr. said, “Congratulations to our 2019 Awards of Merit recipients. I am so proud of the great work they’re doing for their clients and their communities.”

The NAHRO Awards of Merit program was created 20 years ago to recognize agencies who found innovative ways of making a difference in their communities and in the lives of the people they serve by creating affordable housing, revitalizing their neighborhoods and developing initiatives such as job readiness programs, public-private partnerships, disaster prevention projects and more.

HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, currently managing 295 public housing units, 705 nonprofit affordable rental units, and more than 1,500 Section 8 vouchers. The agency is actively working to increase the supply of affordable housing and to improve the quality of life for hundreds more of the low-income residents of the City of Ventura. http://www.hacityventura.org/.

NAHRO, established in 1933, is a membership organization of nearly 20,000 housing and community development agencies and professionals throughout the United States whose mission is to create affordable housing and safe, viable communities that enhance the quality of life for all Americans, especially those of low- and moderate-income. NAHRO’s membership administers more than 3 million housing units for 7.6 million people.

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) announced that it has recently received funding support from The McCune Foundation, The Lluella Morey Murphy Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, and Pacific Western Bank. The combined $1,480,000 helps to facilitate the organization’s core values to provide early funding through its revolving loan fund for the development of affordable housing options that create stable homes for underserved residents of Ventura County. Specifically, HTF Ventura County is focused on providing affordable housing for very-low to low-income employees, transitional age foster youth, veterans, farm workers and the homeless.

The McCune Foundation invested $250,000 with HTF Ventura County stating in a press release, “By investing a portion of our endowment to help address the housing crisis, we can expand our impact beyond the $800,000 in annual grants we award for projects involving community improvements and empowerment.” The Lluella Morey Murphy Foundation donated $50,000 to the nonprofit.

Many banks have risen to the challenge as well with Pacific Western Bank lending $1 million to HTF Ventura County. “At Pacific Western Bank we believe in partnerships, and in the power that comes from a community joining forces to solve a local need. HTF Ventura County has the vision, knowledge, and the right connections to make affordable housing a reality in our county,” said Sean Morreale, Pacific Western Bank EVP/Regional Manager, Central Coast Region-South. Additional bank support has been received through a $150,000 line of credit by Montecito Bank & Trust, and a $30,000 operational grant from Wells Fargo Bank as part of their “$1 billion in philanthropy by 2025” initiative to specifically address the U.S. housing affordability crisis.

This new round of funding combined with a recent $125,000 U.S. Department of the Treasury grant along with other support brings HTF Ventura County’s 2018/19 funding to date to $3 million. Included in this total is $100,000 raised during the organization’s “Your Business Depends on Housing” event held in May, which successfully raised

$10,000 each from Sage Publications, Inc., Legado Companies, Union Seniors Association, and City National Bank, among other supporters.

“We are now within 40% of achieving our five-million-dollar challenge by the end of this year,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. “Everyone deserves a home and I am confident that our community will help us get there.” Earlier this year, HTF Ventura County set a goal of raising $5 million by the end of 2019 and an additional $5 million in 2020, which is anticipated to generate $10 million from the state’s Prop 1 fund matching program, for a combined estimated $20 million in support of affordable housing in Ventura County.

The Board of Supervisors has authorized an agreement between the Ventura County Superior Court and the Ventura County Probation Agency to continue the Pretrial Risk Assessment and Monitoring Services program.

The Superior Court was awarded more than $3 million in state funding as part of a pretrial pilot program between superior courts and their probation agencies. It will provide the Probation Agency $3.3 million to expand and enhance the current Pretrial Risk Assessment and Monitoring Services (PRAMS) program.

The PRAMS program provides the Court with additional alternatives to incarceration including electronic monitoring, GPS tracking, alcohol monitoring and other pretrial monitoring options. The program uses an evidence-based assessment tool to evaluate a defendant’s likelihood of appearing in court or reoffending.

By giving the Court reliable and objective information at a defendant’s arraignment hearing, the judicial officer can consider appropriate release options for felony non-prison eligible offenders. This reduces the local jail population by freeing beds for higher risk defendants while upholding public safety.

“This funding will allow us to significantly expand our program and services,” said Chief Probation Officer Mark Varela. “Currently the program operates five days a week from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Now we will be able to operate seven days a week for 12 hours a day. We’ll have Deputy Probation Officers stationed in the booking area of the jail and they will have more time to conduct assessments and other pretrial investigative work.”

The PRAMS program has been operating for five years and the results have been positive. To date, 90% of the defendants who were released remained arrest-free; and 82% of the defendants appeared for all their court hearings through the final dispositions of their cases.

“There are many benefits to monitoring over incarceration,” said Varela. “Families are not displaced, and defendants can maintain their employment during the pretrial process. And, as a result, were have been able to meet our goal of reducing the local jail population and making space available for higher risk defendants.”

The Ventura Education Partnership has awarded 81 VEPGrants to teachers and staff for their development of creative educational projects that stimulate learning by students. Over $74,000.00 was awarded. Each year, teachers and staff from VUSD schools and district programs submit short grant proposals which are reviewed and evaluated by a diverse group of readers from VEP and the community.

Grants up to $1000 each are awarded for innovative projects and activities that supplement core curricula in pre-school through high school. Many community businesses and organizations support this program through funding for VEPGrants. Some of these include MJP Technologies Inc., Community Memorial Health System, Aera Energy, Mountains to Beach Marathon, Fred Evans, ReMax. and the City of Ventura.

Madhu Bajaj, president of the Ventura Education Partnership had this to say about the VEPGrant program. “It is amazing how a relatively small amount of money can empower an educator, transform a classroom and deepen students’ educational experiences. We are grateful for all our generous partners who give time and money to support innovative grants for Ventura Unified.”

They are a great way to Connect with your neighbors, learn what’s happening in your area, get updates and information from the City of Ventura including a regular police report and special presentations on projects and announcements for your area and the city at large and to participate in projects that make a difference in your community.

Find your neighborhood council:

College Area Community Council: Meets 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 pm at the Wright Event Center at 57 Day Road.

East End Community Council: Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 pm at First Assembly of God Church, 346 N. Kimball Rd.

Midtown Community Council: Meets 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 pm at Grace Church, Cooper Hall 65 S. MacMillan Ave.

Montalvo Community Council: Meetings are held quarterly or as needed. Please email Dan Farmer for more information about the next meeting [email protected].

Pierpont Community Council: Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the Ventura County Credit Union located at 2575 Vista Del Mar.

Westside Community Council: Meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm at Bells Arts Factory located at 432 N. Ventura Ave.

Have questions about Neighborhood Community Councils? Please call 805-339-4317 or email [email protected].

Both shoppers and California farmers are benefitting from the Market Match and the Cal-Fresh (SNAP) food programs offered by the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFM).

Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program, which uses grant dollars to match or double a portion of the customers’ federal nutrition assistance benefits, like Cal-Fresh (SNAP), for the exclusive purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at their certified farmers’ market.

The Market Match program is available at two Ventura Markets, the Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market held on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pacific View Mall and the Downtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market held on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon held in the City Parking Lot, at Santa Clara & Palm Streets.

All Cal-Fresh SNAP and Market Match benefits are administered through a token system available at the VCCFM Market Information booths. The markets also accept the WIC (Women, Infants and Child) food programs at each of their locations. “This is a great time for qualified shoppers to utilize these programs and expand their food benefits during the holidays with all of the celebrations taking place,” stated Karen Schott, Operations Manager for the VCCFM. “We are excited to offer this grant program, working together with our farmers, to add more food accessibility in our community” she added.

For more information, call the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association at 805-529-6266 or visit the website at www.vccfm.org.