{"id":2023,"date":"2021-08-30T15:31:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T22:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/?p=2023"},"modified":"2022-03-23T15:35:39","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T22:35:39","slug":"update-on-efforts-in-the-santa-clara-river-bottom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.venturacounty.gov\/en\/update-on-efforts-in-the-santa-clara-river-bottom\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on efforts in the Santa Clara River Bottom"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Download article:<\/strong> English<\/a><\/p>

Good Afternoon Community Members,<\/p>

This is your e-news update on activity in addressing support for the unsheltered in the Santa Clara River Watershed. This is the second newsletter on this topic. The\u00a0 first message can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>

Update from District 1 and District 5<\/strong><\/p>

Supervisors LaVere and Ramirez, Districts 1 and 5, are the representatives for the area of the Task Force effort to address Santa Clara River bottom encampments. They, individually, and along with members of their staff, have accompanied the County Executive Officer, Sheriff, and County public health and other staff several times to see for themselves the encampments. They have observed the accumulation of trash and debris in the Santa Clara River bottom. They also recently went with the County\u2019s Backpack Medicine team which offers help and services to the people living in the watershed. This is being done ahead of a major clean-up effort that is planned to take place in September. The County Executive team is leading the effort coordinating with the Sheriff\u2019s office, Ventura and Oxnard Police, and Public Works Agency staff to make access easier and to clear pathways for the future clean-up event. More clearing of brush and vegetation, which pose a fire danger, will occur after the sites which are abandoned have been removed.<\/p>

Supervisors LaVere and Ramirez know that the existing situation in the Santa Clara River Bottom is not an isolated occurrence. As such, they are actively engaging with the CEO\u2019s office and various County Agencies and Departments as part of a leadership taskforce whose goals are to assist our unsheltered in finding housing while ensuring the long-term ecological health, public safety, and the elimination of crime activity in our watersheds and surrounding communities. This effort takes a village of agencies, jurisdictions, and departments to assess and ensure the effectiveness of this\u00a0 endeavor\u00a0 which\u00a0 includes finding housing for people and trying to avoid forcing them to find other unsuitable places to shelter. The unsheltered living locations are not good for the health and welfare of the unsheltered people and pose a risk to the broader community.<\/p>

Task Force Recap<\/strong><\/p>

8\/10\/21 Task Force Established<\/strong><\/p>

The collaborative effort, supported by the Board of Supervisors, is led by the County of Ventura’s Executive Office working with the Supervisors of the impacted areas including the Offices of Supervisor Carmen Ramirez and Supervisor Matt LaVere. Other partners include the Cities of Oxnard and Ventura and community partner organizations. County departments involved include the Human Services Agency, Health Care Agency, Ventura County\u00a0 Sheriff’s\u00a0 Office,\u00a0 Fire\u00a0 Protection\u00a0 District,\u00a0 Public\u00a0 Works\u00a0 Watershed\u00a0 Protection District,\u00a0 General\u00a0 Services\u00a0 Agency,\u00a0 and\u00a0 CEO\u00a0 Community\u00a0 Development\u00a0 Team\u00a0 and Community Liaison.<\/p>

Work on Abandoned Encampments<\/strong><\/p>

The Sheriff’s Office has conducted survey of the watershed area with County Fire for access path widening and to conduct a brush fire threat survey as it relates to the encampments. Widening of foot and access paths has been conducted to facilitate heavy equipment access. Watershed is scheduled to begin clean-up of abandoned encampments in September.<\/p>

Survey and Outreach Efforts<\/strong><\/p>

Backpack medicine comprised of many County agencies providing support and resource and multi-disciplinary teams have made recent visits to the area. Multi-agency and law enforcement groups have convened and planned initial survey dates to further assess the area. A Santa Clara River Encampment Assessment was developed, including questions on potential alternative placement, health conditions, and current connection to services. Survey and outreach outings have taken place to provide information to people in the watershed\u00a0 area.\u00a0 Teams\u00a0 have\u00a0 representation\u00a0 across\u00a0 services,\u00a0 including\u00a0 the\u00a0 County’s Human\u00a0 Services\u00a0 Agency,\u00a0 Health\u00a0 Care\u00a0 Agency\u00a0 Healthcare\u00a0 for\u00a0 the\u00a0 Homeless,\u00a0 Whole Person Care and Behavioral Health.<\/p>

Relocation Option Identification<\/strong><\/p>

Scope of this particular effort will be informed by surveys and outreach taking place, so these items are in development. Based on the needs of each homeless individual in the river bottom, efforts will be made to connect individuals to shelter and housing options funded by the County and Cities ranging from shelters, hotels, safe camping\/parking, affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, and rentals among others. The County and Cities are exploring providing transportation to these options in addition to mobile showers, handwashing stations, property storage and restrooms if relocating to a safe camping location.<\/p>

Project Roomkey funding is extended through 12\/31\/21. The future of that\u00a0 program impacts relocation strategies. 186 households are currently supported by Project Roomkey with motel vouchers and 65 households are supported at the Oxnard site supported by Mercy House and the National Health Foundation. This resource remains in place for highly vulnerable seniors and persons\u00a0 with\u00a0 serious\u00a0 medical\u00a0 conditions\u00a0 who\u00a0 are homeless. Of those that have exited, 30% have exited to permanent housing and 50% are in temporary placements. More than 600 people have been assisted since the start of the program in our County.<\/p>

Leadership Coordination<\/strong><\/p>

County leaders have met with all ten city managers and discussed coordination on safe camping\/sleep and prohibited camping area policies, maximizing access to state funding that is becoming available, coordination of resources\/cost sharing on continued watershed cleanup and homeless housing\/support efforts.<\/p>

Program Spotlight – Ventura County Health Care Agency<\/strong>
Healthcare for the Homeless – One Stop<\/strong><\/p>