About Us

•  Ventura Homeless Prevention Board of Directors List
   Ventura Homeless Prevention is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prevents homelessness in the City of Ventura by keeping people in their homes.
•  Every penny donated goes directly to pay rent for households who have been stably housed but are suddenly unable to meet the current month’s rent because of a one-time event like a car repair, medical bill, or loss of pay due to illness or temporary lay off.  
•  Small financial setbacks have left our clients facing eviction, usually because they are paying too much of their income in rent — 58% of their income, on average.
•  Before we help, case managers verify that the temporary situation has been resolved and that clients will be able to pay their own rent going forward; they work with clients on budgeting and other strategies that will support ongoing housing stability.  
•  Over 90% of those we help are still in their homes one year later.   
•  On average we have prevented homelessness for one household per week since we began our work in 2007 — over 1,300 people so far, 40% of them children.
•  The average cost in 2019 was $1,135 per household or $445 per person.
•  We are an all-volunteer organization operating in donated space, and the Board pays our few administrative costs, so every penny donated or granted goes directly to pay rent and keep people housed.
•  Ventura Homeless Prevention is supported by regular donations from 10 houses of worship and over 100 individuals annually, as well as occasional grants from businesses and foundations. 

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Board of Directors

Judy Alexandre PhD, LCSW is Co-Chair of the Ventura Social Services Task Force. She is a retired Professor of Social Work from Westmont College, where she taught classes in social work skills and policy. She had a private clinical practice for 35 years, and supervised interns for many years as well. Judy volunteers at One Stop and with Homes for All.

Albert Barosso, Development Officer is a realtor with Resource Real Estate with an extensive background in marketing and connections throughout the real estate community. He has volunteered extensively in the community, including at the County Museum, New Art City Theater. His motto is  “With open hands, not only are you able to receive but more importantly, you’re able to give.”

Sue Brinkmeyer, President and Board Chair, is a former grant writer, grant director and community college professor of English. She has served on the Oxnard Homeless Commission, chaired the Ventura Social Services Task Force and Lift Up Your Voice, and served on the Board of the County’s Continuum of Care, all of which are organizations dedicated to ending homelessness in their respective areas. 

Adele Ferguson, MSW, Client Follow-Up Lead, is a retired social worker who worked before retirement with County Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic in counseling and case management, and as a coordinator for the MSW distance education program based in Ventura for California State University, Long Beach. 

John Sanders Jones, Webmaster, served for many years as president of the Ventura Social Services Task Force. He has been a community activist working to end homelessness for over fifteen years.

David Schmutte, Treasurer, is a retired CPA. He has served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Turning Point Foundation, past president of the Channel Counties Chapter California Certified Public Accountants Society, and president of the Ventura Kiwanis club. 

Debora Schreiber, Secretary, is a retired nurse and long-time activist in Ventura County. She, along with her partner, Neal Andrews, was among the group at the Ventura Social Services Task Force that created the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund back in 2007, prior to our incorporation as a 501(c)(3) in 2014..

Ventura Homeless Prevention Advisors to the Board

Thomas Hutchinson is a partner with the law firm of Norman Dowler LLP, who has also had a successful career in business, encompassing sales, marketing, finance, management and manufacturing. He is past-president of the Rotary Club of Ventura.

Sheri Ray, Case Manager Representative, is a case manager at the Salvation Army, Ventura, where she has been employed for more than 14 years, serving in a variety of roles, including, Case manager, office assistant and facility monitor. She has worked with Ventura Homeless Prevention as one of the primary case managers for the last 12 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Cal State Channel Islands.