Ventura County is marking a significant milestone with the inauguration of Central Terrace Apartments, a forward step in tackling the affordable housing crisis in Oxnard. The project was spearheaded by Many Mansions, a local housing organization, which has now provided 87 new homes aimed at alleviating the stresses for those struggling to find reasonably priced accommodations in the area. Among these, 35 are dedicated specifically to supporting individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness, offering a stable foundation to build upon.
It's not just the homes that are spotlighted here, but the array of facilities designed to enrich the lives of residents, including a central courtyard and BBQ space alongside essential conveniences such as laundry services and bicycle storage; residents now have the opportunity to enjoy various aspects of community living within these new confines. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has been instrumental in this development, contributing over $23 million through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program to not only support the construction of Central Terrace but also to enhance local infrastructure such as bike lanes, parks and resurfacing curb extensions, which could help transform Downtown Oxnard into a more sustainable and accessible community.
Transit options in the area received a substantial boost from the AHSC funds, with improvements implemented at the 4th and B Street transit hub – these upgrades include brand-new restroom facilities, lights, and signs, aiming to elevate the daily commute experience for residents. Moreover, the grant's reach extended to enhancing 52 downtown bus stops and has subsidized the purchase of 42 electric 15-passenger vans, which will serve CalVans’ vanpool and are targeted to help local farmworker programs.
Central Terrace Apartments has prioritized homes for the very and extremely low-income residents, providing not just shelter but also on-site services and programs fostering stability and encouraging economic resiliency, the program, reflective of HCD’s Homekey+ program and propelled further by the recent passage of Proposition 1, is set to be an exemplar model for statewide expansion of permanent supportive housing. According to information from HCD, "HCD welcomes the opportunity to continue expanding this permanent supportive housing model statewide thanks to passage of Proposition 1 and HCD’s new Homekey+ program."
