The most recent attempt to collect data on the makeup of Ventura County’s farm worker households, and to quantify farm worker housing needs, was published in 2001. It was prepared under the auspices of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency’s Planning Division.

Much has changed in the housing market, agricultural labor force and county economy in the past 19 years. Yet the disconnect between farm worker income and local housing prices remains as profound as ever.

What would it take to produce a comprehensive study of farm workers and their housing needs in Ventura County, coupled with a detailed stakeholder-driven strategy to wield the study’s findings as a catalyst for specific policy changes and as a tool for public education?

In 2018, a farm worker housing study was funded and published by a collaboration of County and City governments, affordable housing developers, and nonprofit organizations in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys. The report also included a comprehensive Action Plan that is currently being implemented across jurisdictions and yielding great results.

Join us on Friday, February 28 to hear from Jennifer Coile, the program manager that lead the Farm Worker Housing Study and Action Plan in Salinas Valley and Pajaro Valley. We will hear about what steps were taken to initiate this study, who was involved, how it was financed, and the research methodology and process. We will also hear about their Action Plan implementation and what progress has been made on the objectives across jurisdictions and counties.

Agenda

8:30 am -9:00 am Check in and Networking

9:00 am -10:30 am Program