$1.2 Million May Go to Housing Projects

With $1.2 million in federal funds available, the City Council will consider supporting low-income housing projects on Ventura Avenue and in downtown Ventura, as well as buying a house for homeless residents who have found jobs.

The city has compiled federal HOME Consortium funds from 1993 through 1996, which can be used to acquire, build or renovate housing for low-income residents--or to pay their rent.

Only a few limitations apply: 15% of the money must be given to a local nonprofit organization, and the local government must provide a 25% matching grant to the federal monies.

However, this requirement was temporarily waived for Ventura because the county had to channel so much money toward recovering from natural disasters.

After analyzing various city buildings and programs, city staff recommended that the city give:

* $210,000 to Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, the only nonprofit organization dedicated to low-income housing.

* $720,000 to buy and renovate the three-story Casa de Anza building on Ventura Avenue.

* $156,000 to buy a triplex to house recently employed homeless people enrolled in the HERO program, a city effort to move people off the streets and into homes and jobs.

Staff members also recommended that the city spend more than $200,000 to develop a rental rehabilitation program in the Ventura Avenue and downtown areas.

They also urged that Ventura match the federal funds with a 25% contribution, which would go to the De Anza Project and the HERO triplex.