Firm to Develop Housing for Poor : Oxnard: The housing corporation, chosen by the city, will focus on replacing units wiped out by redevelopment efforts.

Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. will lead a first-ever push to develop low-income housing in Oxnard, a city that housing experts say desperately lacks places for the poor to live.

As a condition of receiving a federal grant, the Oxnard City Council on Tuesday chose the Saticoy-based housing corporation to head the development effort, which most likely will focus on replacing housing units wiped out by redevelopment efforts.

Cabrillo has developed 648 low- and moderate-income units throughout Ventura County.

“We’ve been in Ventura County for 10 years and we’re ready to go to work and develop affordable housing in Oxnard,” Karen Flock, senior project manager for Cabrillo, told the council. “As you know, there is a really great need for affordable housing in Oxnard.”

The city has constructed only 43 low-income housing units in the last 11 years.

The city’s blueprint for future housing construction outlines a five-year goal of building 1,450 low- and moderate-income housing units.

In some areas of Oxnard, residents live in converted garages and toolsheds.

One of those areas is the city’s La Colonia district, where two and three families cram into rundown quarters. To address the need for housing there, a group of La Colonia residents has been trying to form a community-based nonprofit housing agency.

The group, known as El Pueblo Unido-Neighborhood Reinvestment, sought to become the nonprofit group that will lead the low-income housing effort.

Assisted by the National Farm Workers Service Center, a Fresno-based housing and community development agency, the fledgling nonprofit group wanted to build single-family houses on the empty lots that dot the Latino barrio.

“The residents would like to be the ones to do it, to take some responsibility for the community,” said Carlos Aguilera, president of the La Colonia Neighborhood Council. “Obviously it’s a big step forward for our community.”

But Cabrillo housing staff argued, and the City Council agreed, that the development effort would best be led by a proven agency.

Council members said they would rather see the low-income housing effort focus on replacing 76 housing units wiped out by the city’s redevelopment efforts over the years. State law requires that those houses be replaced within the next two years.

“We don’t think the (Colonia) infill program is a good way to spend your money,” said Rodney Fernandez, Cabrillo’s executive director. “If you’re looking to get bang from your buck in terms of developing some units, the replacement project is your best option.”

Cabrillo will receive $122,850 of the federal grant to start the development effort. As much as $500,000 in grant funds will be available to build low-income units.