Mission Statement

The mission of HOME is to advocate and educate for greater housing availability and affordability.

Goals

The goal of HOME is to create a positive environment for workforce housing development in Ventura County through programs designed to educate and engage members of local communities.  HOME has established and begun implementing a five step action plan to accomplish these goals.

Regional Situation Analysis – Information will be sought and published that summarizes data collected from the various communities that will include:

• Analysis and forecast of population and job growth

• The number of units each city in the county is producing in all categories ranging from high-income to very-low-income residential and rental properties compared to Housing Element goals

• The density requirements, new building permit allocations issued per year, and the total inventory available for rental and for-sale housing

• The amount of developable land available inside city limits and outside the city limits falling within City Urban Restriction Boundaries (CURB) Lines

• Identify the city and county ordinances and zoning codes that constrain flexibility meeting community housing needs (i.e. height, setbacks, and special overlay zones).

• Analysis of social and lifestyle trends affecting housing costs

• Identification of the complexities, number of approvals, time delays, and costs of meeting regulatory requirements.

Strategy and recommendations – Based on the data collected an overall action plan will be developed and published.  A document will be released that assesses the overall condition and establishes immediate, near-term and long-term actions for which HOME can serve as an advocate.  Recommendations of policy changes will be made to cities in regard to permit streamlining and changes in zoning ordinances, as well as housing goals in the Housing Elements of General Plans for each city, as updated.

Community outreach – The outreach campaign will focus on shifting community awareness.  Specifically, the need for smart growth in the region, and the importance of planning for projects in advance.  In a broader context, the message will include the overall impact of the housing crunch on quality of life, business and the local economy.

Project Endorsement – HOME will aggressively support projects that meet our endorsement criteria. The HOME Endorsement Review Panel of experts in the housing and development fields has been assembled to thoroughly study projects presented.

Housing information clearinghouse – HOME has assembled information of lessons learned relating to housing initiatives locally and elsewhere. This web site serves as a clearinghouse for: business assistance, troubleshooting, education and partnership opportunities, as well as a central venue for publications discussing HOME objectives as they are developed.