~ Breaks fundraising record for fourth straight year ~
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced that its 6th Annual Compassion Campaign raised record breaking funds for the fourth consecutive year. Held on Thursday, September 4th at Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms in Moorpark and supported in part by Keystone Sponsor HOPE (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), the evening brought together more than 200 community leaders, advocates and supporters to “RAISE THE ROOF” for affordable housing in Ventura County.
During the evening, Denia, a mother of three who endured years of housing instability before finally finding stability through affordable housing delivered a moving testimony. With persistence, faith, and community support, Denia and her daughter received the keys to a safe, affordable home. She recalled the moment they stepped into their apartment, filled with sunlight, space, and hope: “We couldn’t sleep for days out of pure joy. After so many years of uncertainty, this was a blessing from above.” Her story, both deeply personal and profoundly relatable, served as a poignant reminder of the life-changing impact of affordable housing in Ventura County.
Dr. John Nunes, President of California Lutheran University, and Giorgio Angelini, Director of OWNED: A Tale of Two Americas and producer of the upcoming documentary Evicted, adapted from Matthew Desmond’s Pulitzer Prize–winning book, explored how stories like Denia’s reflect the broader urgency of affordable housing in America, and how art, education, and faith can inspire systemic change.
“The power of our Compassion Campaign community event is delivered by voices across our community – storytellers, leaders, and residents – reminding us why safe, affordable homes matter to every family in Ventura County,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County and Housing Land Trust Ventura County. “It’s through community support and local investment in affordable housing that real change happens.” Braunschweiger emphasized that local impact investing is more than just a financial tool, it’s a way for the community to directly shape its future. By investing in affordable housing, residents and partners not only help families like Denia’s find stability but also generate a return for themselves while their money is reinvested to create even more homes.
Other memorable highlights include:
- a local case study from Doug Menges, Executive Director of Many Mansions, who shared the story of Central Terrace, an 87-unit affordable housing development in Oxnard funded in part by Housing Trust Fund VC.
- Pillar sponsors Adey Tesfaye, SVP CRA Manager of City National Bank; Leona Rollins of the City of Ventura; and Veronica Quintana of Montecito Bank and Trust emphasized the critical role of public-private collaboration in sustaining developments like Central Terrace.
- A special moment of recognition occurred for Chair Emeritus, Dawn Dyer, recently honored with the California Association of Realtors Champions of Home Impact Award
- McCarthy Companies received the inaugural “Paint It Forward” award for the Build a Home lending library decorating competition. Libraries, built by local Life Scout Andrew of Troop 858, will be placed in communities supported by Housing Trust Fund VC.
