Casa de Carmen and the Oxnard Navigation Center
By combining emergency shelter with permanent supportive housing, the future downtown campus at 2nd & B streets aims to move people from crisis to stability
OXNARD, Calif., December 19, 2022 — The Oxnard City Council, County of Ventura, and their nonprofit and private partners are breaking new ground, literally and figuratively, in their response to homelessness. Casa de Carmen and the Oxnard Navigation Center are now taking shape in downtown Oxnard and will combine 56 permanent supportive housing units (including one manager unit) and a 110-bed, 24-hour emergency shelter. The facilities are expected to open early 2024.
Co-developed by Mercy House, a nonprofit housing services organization that has operated the current Oxnard shelter since 2019, and Community Development Partners (CDP), a mission-driven affordable housing developer, the campus will use a relatively new and ambitious shelter-with-housing model to provide a realistic path out of homelessness — one that starts next door to City Hall and is designed to move people from crisis to stability with efficiency, dignity and compassion.
“After a long process and community input, we have the first major site for our homeless,” shared Mayor John C. Zaragoza. “As a community, we must not neglect the human side of homelessness. These are our neighbors, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who’ve lost the hope, comfort and dignity of having a guaranteed place to rest their heads at night.”
“In Oxnard, we only have a homeless shelter right now — not a full service navigation center,” said Alexander Nguyen, Oxnard City Manager. “It’s really important to have a proper facility to serve homeless individuals and families humanely and respectfully. We could not have done this without great partners, like Mercy House and Community Development Partners. We are so grateful.”
The “shelter-with-housing” model is an innovative, new concept — and a first for Oxnard and Ventura County. The $42.6 million project leverages funding from multiple local, state and federal sources, requiring the City of Oxnard to contribute only $1.5 million and a parcel of city-owned land.
“Casa de Carmen and the Oxnard Navigation Center will be more than a homeless shelter, more than new housing. It’s a promising, powerful combination of both,” said Larry Haynes, CEO, Mercy House. “What makes the campus innovative and ambitious is that it will provide immediate relief to unhoused people in Oxnard and give them a path to achieving long-term stability — all in the same location.”
Over the past decade, CDP and Mercy House have collaborated to create several permanent supportive housing developments throughout southern California, but the new Oxnard facility is the first time they are combining a shelter with housing on the same site.
“It was important for Mercy House as the service provider to be deeply involved in the building and site design,” Kyle Paine, president, Community Development Partners. “We took a vacant, boarded-up building and are replacing it with a beautiful, colorful, hopeful place. We are creating something that everyone — shelter guests, supportive housing residents, and neighbors who live and work nearby — can embrace and be proud of.”
CDP and Mercy House co-designed the new facility to be responsive, innovative, dignified and attractive, encouraging a healthy flow of people from outside into the ground-floor shelter and ultimately (depending on their eligibility) to the supportive housing units on the upper floors:
- The shelter provides beds, bathrooms, showers and a kitchen to serve 110 adults.
- Four upper floors contain 56 supportive housing units (including one manager unit); community room with kitchen; computer workstations; and office spaces where residents can receive private case management and services.
- Pets are welcome; shelter beds were designed with pet sleeping space underneath.
- Guests and residents share access to a rooftop deck with BBQ and pet exercise areas.
- The 22,000-square-foot building will feature a large mural on the exterior and will inject color and beauty into Oxnard’s downtown, replacing an unused city building.
Mercy House will operate the shelter and provide residential services for people in the supportive housing units. Wrap-around case management services will be provided by Ventura County Behavioral Health.
“Supportive housing is really a game changer,” said Dr. Sevet Johnson, County Executive Officer for the County of Ventura. “Not only are people housed and have a roof over their heads, but they are also receiving the full continuum of services and care. It’s this link to services that helps people maintain their housing.”
“We are thrilled to be part of this project,” said Scott Gilman, Director of Ventura County Behavioral Health. “We know for some individuals simply placing them in a room without support services doesn’t work. Having treatment and support available at the Navigation Center will significantly improve long term housing success.”
The name of the supportive housing section, “Casa de Carmen,” honors Carmen Ramírez, former chair of the County of Ventura Board of Supervisors and longtime Oxnard City Council member, who died in August 2022. Ramírez was beloved for her devoted service to Oxnard, especially its most vulnerable members. She continuously fought for the underserved prior to her untimely death at age 73, when she was struck by a car and killed while crossing a street in downtown Oxnard.
“Carmen always supported Housing First initiatives, and she was passionate about this project in Oxnard,” shared Roy Prince, Carmen’s husband. “I am grateful for Carmen to be honored by this project that provides affordable housing in Downtown Oxnard. This is a model for providing our community with pathways out of homelessness, and inspiring innovative housing solutions throughout Ventura County.”
Funding for Casa de Carmen and the Oxnard Navigation Center is supported by a 4% Low Income Tax Credits (LIHTC) allocation with a $17M equity investment by Red Stone, $7.2M of No Place Like Home program funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), a $1.5M investment from the City of Oxnard, a $1M investment from the County of Ventura, and a Section 8 contract for 55 project-based vouchers administered by the Housing Authority of the City of Oxnard. Construction financing and permanent financing is being provided by Citi. The project was designed by Architecture Design Collaborative and is being built by Walton Construction. FPI Management will be the property manager.
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As Ventura County’s most populous city, Oxnard is home to more than 200,000 community members that celebrate the city’s vibrant multicultural heritage. Since its incorporation in 1903, Oxnard has operated as a full-service city. The local government is responsible for providing many services necessary to daily life, ranging from public safety, trash, water and sewer, to planning and building, parks, libraries, youth and senior recreation programs, housing authority, and maintaining the city’s streets, sidewalks, and public parks.
For over 25 years, Mercy House has provided supportive services and comprehensive resident services to families, individuals, homeless, chronically homeless, and disabled individuals in California. Their mission is to be a leader in ending homelessness by providing a unique system of dignified housing opportunities, programs and supportive services. Mercy House staff has extensive knowledge of needs and barriers faced by the families and chronically homeless in our community, and they utilize a variety of resources and service coordination partnerships imperative to their success.
About Community Development Partners
Founded in 2011, Community Development Partners develops and operates sustainable, life-enhancing affordable housing with a focus on long-term community engagement and innovative design. As a mission-driven, forward-thinking organization, CDP is focused exclusively on creating vibrant affordable housing communities that incorporate art, public parks, gardens, fresh food, and cultural and social programming. Today, CDP has successfully built or preserved 44 unique projects comprising over 3,500 units throughout Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona.
Ventura County Behavioral Health
Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) envisions a community where their diverse residents are respected and empowered so those impacted by mental health and substance use can heal, thrive, and lead a healthy, engaged life. VCBH is committed to reducing stigma and discrimination. They promote wellness through a whole-person care approach where clients and families are empowered by appropriate, accessible, timely, culturally sensitive, and collaborative behavioral health services.
VCBH plays an important role as an integrated component of the Ventura County Health Care Agency. The Crisis and Referral Line is the entry point for access to all Ventura County Behavioral Health services. VCBH is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides support for individuals and families who are in crisis, people considering suicide, and those struggling with mental illness, substance use, or both.
Navigation Center Details
The Homeless Solutions Center on W. Second Street will be providing a Navigation Center with a 24-hour, year-round shelter with 110 beds, shower and laundry facilities, a meal program, pet accommodations, housing navigation and case management services for homeless individuals in Oxnard. Additionally, the City plans to add 56 permanent supportive housing units, and office space for supportive service providers.
Navigation Centers are essential to reducing the unsheltered homeless population in Oxnard. The shelter offers a low-barrier, high-service program that is designed to connect homeless individuals to services and provide housing assistance.
The City of Oxnard will operate the shelter with Mercy House, a nonprofit who manages operations and assists individuals with determining a path out of homelessness. The City has worked with Mercy House since June of 2019, helping to connect with homeless individuals through the shelter’s service offerings.
Addressing Safety Concerns for Homeless Solutions Center Neighbors
The City of Oxnard is committed to protecting the safety of both the Homeless Solutions Center’s guests and the neighboring community near 241 W. Second St.
When the city opened its first 24-hour shelter on South K St., the site’s operator, Mercy House, contracted for a private 24-hour security service, that service will continue to be provided at the W. Second Street site. Additionally, the Fire Department Administration and Police Department are located within walking distance from the W. Second Street Site. There are plans to also have other City services involved with the shelter.
Homeless Solutions Center Frequently Asked Questions
A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the Oxnard Homeless Solutions Center are included below.
What is a low barrier shelter?
Low barrier shelters are designed to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness in a community. The shelter serves homeless men and women with priority for those living in Oxnard. All clients of this shelter must be eighteen years of age or older, or must be able to provide valid documentation if they are emancipated youths. All prospective clients will be screened for open felony warrants and status as a registered sex offender. If the client has open felony warrants or is a registered sex offender, they are not eligible for this program and should connect to resources with our nonprofit partners.
Who is Mercy House?
Mercy House is a nonprofit 401 (C) 3. Mercy House provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for a variety of homeless populations which includes families, adult men and women, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV and AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and some who are physically and mentally disabled.
Mercy House is a nonprofit 401 (C) 3. Mercy House provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for a variety of homeless populations which includes families, adult men and women, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV and AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and some who are physically and mentally disabled.
Mercy strives to assist residents in the areas of economic, emotional, and spiritual well-being in order to enhance self-esteem and a sense of personal pride. Mercy values accountability, integrity, and self-sufficiency. The dignity of the individual person and the corresponding respect that follows is the guiding principle of Mercy House’s service to homeless individuals.
Mission Statement: To be a leader in ending homelessness by providing a unique system of dignified housing opportunities, programs, and supportive services.
Goal: To end the cycle of homelessness of those who enter Mercy’s system of care.
Will the Homeless Solutions Center operate with a good neighbor policy?
Mercy Housing will operate the Homeless Solutions Center under a good neighbor policy including the provision of case managers, housing navigators, and local homeless social service agency staff to assist shelter participants.
In addition, Mercy Housing will provide 24-hour security service at the Homeless Solutions Center.
Mercy will work to minimize negative impacts due to any activity conducted by shelter participants and other homeless individuals who have been denied access and will ensure they are not congregating in the neighborhood and are not leaving behind trash or other materials within a maximum of 500 ft South and East and 1000 ft North and West of the Homeless Solutions Center facility.
What services will be offered on site at the navigation center?
Services include shower, laundry facilities, a meal program, pet accommodations, housing navigation, case management, linkages to medical, mental health, dental services and other supportive services as needed.
Why must the navigation center relocate from K Street?
The navigation center operation at 351 K Street intrudes within the runway protection zone of the Oxnard Airport, which may impact potential navigation center funding from the County of Ventura. Therefore, it must be re-located.
Is a Homeless Solutions Center consistent with a Housing First policy?
A low barrier navigation center is consistent with a housing first model of homeless services because supportive services are delivered under the protection of a shelter without imposing barriers to entry into the navigation center.
What security will be offered at the Homeless Solutions Center?
Professional security guards are contracted through a third-party vendor and receive “Homeless Sensitivity Training” through the Mercy House resources. Security will be on site at all times, stationed both inside and outside the facility to ensure maximum coverage.
Questions?
If you have additional questions, please email Emilio Ramirez at emilio.ramirez@oxnard.org.