Countywide : Interface Pays Off the Mortgage

Eleven people torched an official document in front of Simi Valley City Hall Wednesday.

But it wasn’t an act of protest.

Simi Valley public officials and representatives of Interface Children Family Services of Ventura County gathered to burn the agency’s mortgage on its shelter for battered women and their children.

“It really symbolizes a celebration,” said Chuck Watson, executive director of Interface.

The agency paid the entire $41,000 balance of the shelter’s mortgage this month, 14 years ahead of schedule.

The prepayment of the mortgage, which was originally for 30 years and $110,000, saves the agency money that would have gone to paying future interest.

It also frees up the $460 previously spent on monthly mortgage payments, which will go toward hiring more therapists for battered women and children, Watson said.

Wednesday’s mortgage-burning also celebrated the nonprofit agency’s success in raising money during these tough economic times, he said.

In addition to the $41,000 for the mortgage, Interface raised $42,678 for renovating the 25-year-old shelter.

Interface raised the funds through donations from the county’s cities and from private donors.

Interface counselors said it’s a good thing that the agency is able to raise money for domestic violence programs during a recession, because financial stress can increase the potential for abuse in troubled families--and the number of people seeking help at the agency.

“When there are more layoffs, that creates more pressure and tension in the home,” said Marty Bolton, director of crisis services.

In addition to serving victims of domestic violence, Interface offers counseling to runaway children and their families and operates a hotline for teen-agers.