Homelessness easier to prevent than to fix after the fact
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Longtime resident Larry Mack, like many others facing homelessness, is having trouble finding a permanent place to live on his small income.

His Thousand Oaks business, which was open for 22 years, has closed due to low sales and a 30 percent rent increase. Mack, with his dog, is searching for a place to live. He's been offered a part-time job fixing fishing reels, but he'd like to have something full time, too, he said, adding that he wants to be able to go to work every day and have a place to come home to at night.

He's not alone, said Linda FisherHelton, community relations manager of the Area Housing Authority of the county of Ventura, an independent nonprofit agency that provides assistance to people in need of affordable housing.

Fisher-Helton said she was unable to find shelter for a woman who faced eviction after she had to quit her job to care for her disabled child.

"As far as I know there isn't a program for them," said Fisher-Helton. "There are more who need a place to live than there is housing."

AHA purchased 355 units with public money, and there are about 3,900 households on the waiting list, she said.

Those living in the units are low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. There is a low turnover rate because the people living in the subsidized housing generally stay unless their income increases beyond the qualification amount. Openings generally only become available if somebody moves or dies.

It takes about two years to get to the top of the HUD waiting list, Fisher-Helton said.

"It is so sad that we receive phone calls and e-mails every day regarding situations where people are about to be homeless and are unable to prevent it," she said. "It is a heart-wrenching situation for our staff, the person and their family."

In response to an outpouring of community sympathy and kindness toward Mack, Many Mansions, a Thousand Oaksbased nonprofit affordable housing services provider, has established the Conejo Homeless Prevention and Assistance Fund.

The fund will provide a shortterm solution. Rental assistance and other emergency resources will be provided to prevent people from becoming homeless.

Ventura County's 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness noted that the creation of such a program is essential for ending homelessness. Community education is also important, the recently published report said.

The report also pointed out that it is less costly to the community to help a family stay in their home than to place them back in housing after they have become homeless.

Many Mansions will coordinate with local service organizations to provide those in critical need with temporary housing or other necessary assistance.

To support the fund, send checks, payable to Many Mansions and designated for the Conejo Homeless Prevention and Assistance Fund, to Many Mansions, 1459 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. D, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.

For more information, contact Rick Schroeder, executive director of Many Mansions, at (805) 496-4948, ext. 227, or rick@manymansions.org.

A checking account has been opened in Mack's name for those who would like to make a donation. Send checks made out to Larry Mack to Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, 101 N. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village, CA 91362.