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

Kevin Clerici, Downtown Ventura Partners
 
Paul Drevenstedt, Ventura County Public Defender 
 
Dawn Dyer (CoC Board Chair), Dyer Sheehan Group Inc.
 
Jack Edelstein, Community Advocate
Juliana Gallardo, People Self Help Housing
Stefany Gonzalez, Formerly Homeless Advocate
Ingrid Hardy, City of Thousand Oaks
 
Dr. Sevet Johnson, County of Ventura
Mara Malch, City of Simi Valley
 
Manuel Minjares (CoC Vice Chair), City of Fillmore
 
Michael Nigh, Area Housing Authority of the County
 
Pauline Preciado, Gold Coast Health Plan 
 
Emilio Ramirez, City of Oxnard                          
          

Quick Links

Staff

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