City Targets Avenue, Downtown for Aid

Sending out a clear message about how they want to spend federal housing funds aimed at low-income residents, the City Council has voted to channel the money to the Avenue and downtown communities.

The federal funds must be used to assist low- and very low-income residents. Council members unanimously agreed Monday to use the city’s federal funds to help with home ownership or to rehabilitate and acquire properties in either area.

Now that council members have clearly laid out their priorities in terms of the locations and types of projects they are looking for, the city will begin asking for applications.

Then the City Council will hold a public hearing March 24 to begin allocating $1,252,280 in available federal funds accumulated since 1993.

Federal funding regulations require that a minimum of 15%--or $262,938--of those funds, go to a local nonprofit group.

On Nov. 18, the council allocated $1,089,012 to three projects: the Casa de Anza apartment project on the Avenue, a triplex project on the Avenue to house people who have been homeless or are about to become homeless, and money to create a program that would provide home ownership and rehabilitation assistance.

City staff members say they expect L.A. Vets, a nonprofit organization serving homeless veterans, to propose another acquisition and rehabilitation project. In addition, Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. will submit a proposal for a small-scale senior project in east Ventura.