About the Ventura County Continuum of Care

About the Ventura County Continuum of Care

Mission Statement

The Ventura County Continuum of Care Alliance is a collaborative group dedicated to promoting a safe, desirable and thriving community by ending homelessness in Ventura County.

Vision
Homelessness in Ventura County is rare, brief and nonrecurring.

Values
The dignity of every human life.
The well-being of the entire community.
The power of the community working together to solve community problems.

Guiding Principles

Collaboration and Coordination
Invest in evidence-based, results-driven and client-focused systems of support that integrate practices, procedures, and services within and across public and private agencies, programs, and policies.

Housing First
People experiencing homelessness require very affordable and permanent housing solutions as quickly as possible and then services as needed.

Strength-Based
Start with and build upon the skills, strengths, and positive characteristics of each person.

Trauma-Informed
Homelessness is a complex, high-risk and individualized condition, not a character trait. Recognize that most people experiencing homelessness have experienced trauma, and build relationships, responses, and services on that knowledge.

Harm Reduction
Seek to reduce the effects of risky behavior in the short-term and eliminate its effects in the long-term.

Governance Board

Jack Edelstein 
Community Advocate
Kevin Clerici
Downtown Ventura Partners 
Dawn Dyer (CoC Board Chair
Dyer Sheehan Group Inc.
    
 
Dr. Sevet Johnson
                                           County of Ventura                                               
Ingrid Hardy 
City of Thousand Oaks
Mara Malch
City of Simi Valley
Stefany Gonzalez
Formerly Homeless Advocate
Manuel Minjares
City of Fillmore
Michael Nigh
Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura
Emilio Ramirez
City of Oxnard

Pauline Preciado                                                                                  Gold Coast Health Plan                                        Paul Drevenstedt                                                                        Ventura County Public Defender                                      Juliana Gallardo                                                                                   People Self Help Housing

Quick Links

Staff

  • Christy Madden
  • Jennifer Harkey
  • Alicia Morales-McKinney
  • Felipe Flores
  • Morgan Saveliff