OJAI : $23,500 Allocated to Housing Aid Plan
A loan program that helps homeless or disadvantaged renters afford housing has received a financial boost from Ojai officials.
The Ojai Redevelopment Agency voted this week to allocate $23,500 to continue the loan program, at least through the middle of next year.
The Ventura County Commission on Human Concerns hands out the funds as grants and zero-interest loans to people who need rent and deposit money to move into an Ojai home or apartment.
Last year, 16 loans averaging about $700 each were awarded during the program’s first year, said Elaine Willman, who coordinates the program for the city.
Applicants are screened to meet several criteria, including whether they have a “strong tie” to Ojai, she said. They must also be either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, living in an abusive domestic situation, handicapped or elderly.
The $23,500 allocation, which is expected to provide 26 more loans, is derived from property taxes within the city’s downtown Redevelopment Area.
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