Ventura Homeless Prevention is an all-volunteer small, private charity that was created to prevent evictions and homelessness by providing rental assistance to residents of the City of Ventura who cannot get the help they need from other programs.
We ask that applicants begin with a phone call to 805-626-0363. In that phone call we attempt to determine if other programs such as the County program at 805-385-1800 could provide the help they need. We generally ask callers who appear to be eligible for the County program to call 805-385-1800 and, if they are referred back to us, to get the reason they cannot get the help they need from that program.
If the information provided in the phone call indicates that the caller is not likely eligible for other programs, we attempt to determine if they meet and believe they can document that they meet the following three criteria:
* They have been paying rent to live in the City of Ventura for at least the last ninety days;
* They are at risk of homelessness because they have had an unusual expense or temporary loss of pay that prevents them from paying their full rent themselves just this one time and they cannot get the help they need from other programs such as the County program at 805-385-1800; and
* There will be no balance owing after our one-time assistance, our payment will end any eviction proceedings, and they will have sufficient income to pay their rent and bills in subsequent months. (Note: our assistance is never more than the documented loss or extra expense, never more than the documented amount of assistance needed, and never more than $1,800.)
If the initial phone call indicates that we are likely the correct place for callers to get rental assistance and if they appear to meet our three criteria, they are provided with instructions on how to apply.
Applicants provide the information required for our application as well as documents that provide evidence that they meet our criteria.
If our criteria are met and documented to our satisfaction, then we meet with applicants to get their signature on the application; with that signature they affirm that all of the information is correct and agree to reply when we contact them after 90 days and after one year to check on their housing status. During that meeting, we verify the applicant’s identity with a photo ID. We also review applicants’ budgets and provide information regarding ways to reduce expenses and increase savings as the individual circumstances merit.
We reserve the right to verify all information provided by applicants by requiring additional documents, checking county records for property ownership, or making contact (with the applicant’s permission) with the employer listed on a check stub or offer of employment.
We check with the landlord to verify that the amount owed is the amount we plan to pay, and that payment of that amount will end eviction proceedings; we also verify how payment should be made, i.e., via check or money ordered and the address at which payment should be made.
We send the application and the documentation to two other Board members for their approval. Once they approve it, one of us delivers a check or money order to the leasing office (if the address is local) or mails the required check or money order (if not local).
In rare situations, a subcommittee of the Board can vote to approve a waiver of a single criterion (e.g., they have not been at their current location for the full 90 days, but have a long history of paying rent at another Ventura address.)
The entire process can all be done in a few days. Delays are generally due to applicants’ failure to provide required information and documentation.
When we do not have funds, we ask applicants who appear likely to meet our criteria to call back or check with us again by phone or email to see if funds have come in.
