Many Mansions Plans Celebration

Many Mansions, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing to nearly 1,000 city residents, will celebrate its 20th anniversary at one of its apartment complexes, with many of the families it serves.

The festivities, to be held at Shadow Hills apartments today from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., will coincide with the annual Harvest Festival, and will include face painting, magicians and a haunted house.

The organization held an anniversary event in August with prominent community members. Now, it wants to celebrate with the residents.

“We are going to renew our commitment to help our residents,” said Loretta St. Germain, resource development assistant for Many Mansions. “As far as I know, we’re the only nonprofit, private organization in the area committed to low-income housing.”

To be eligible to live in a Many Mansions home, a resident’s income must not exceed $25,000 annually for a family of four, and he or she must be working. “They’re the working poor,” St. Germain said. “They need some stability. Sometimes they work two or three jobs to make ends meet.”

Many Mansions was formed by Ventura County Supervisor Frank Schillo in 1979. By the end of that year, Many Mansions had built the city’s first affordable housing complex, which was named after its founder. Schillo Gardens on Los Robles Road has 29 units devoted primarily to seniors and families. Many Mansions now has six housing communities in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.