Ojai Still Lacks Affordable Housing

Problem seen as contributing factor in labor shortage

By Linda Harmon
Affordable housing is not just an isolated problem for some. It is a major issue that directly affects everyone’s quality of life, according to speakers at a local forum Saturday. Carol Smith, City Council member and president of Ojai Valley Democrats, opened the forum Saturday pointing out that service providers are already leaving our area and that the exodus will soon create a labor shortage if housing needs are not met.
Smith continued with another statistic.“Most people think of Ojai as a wealthy community,” said Smith, “while in actuality we have many seniors on fixed incomes and 37 percent of our city is at the poverty level.”Smith doesn’t need the city’s overdue housing element to see the writing on the wall.
“The city doesn’t build housing,” said Smith, “but we need to improve on the opportunity to build affordable housing here.” Smith said a senior couple with a annual fixed income of $35,00 or $40,000 a year looking for a $770 to $800 one bedroom apartment, or a young couple with children looking for a $1,000 to $2,000 a month two bedroom, would be hard-pressed to find it in Ojai where rooms go for $500 in a tight rental market. She went on to dash hopes of those still holding on to the elusive American dream, single family home ownership. “Affordable housing in the future is most probably going to be rentals,” said Smith. “Most people buying homes now are people who have sold a more expensive home in another area. Young families buying their first homes here most likely have wealthy families. I’m lucky, my house is paid for,” said Smith. “I moved here in 1979 making $29,000 a year and bought my first house for $36,000.”
Smith then told of her own son’s family, including her two grandchildren, who recently moved to Colorado.
“He’s an emergency room nurse and couldn’t afford to live here,” said Smith. “I am absolutely against anymore exclusionary housing that would allow expensive condos to be built with only one affordable unit,”said Smith. “The Mallory Way builder probably won’t be allowed to do anything with them, unless he does something with affordable housing. They are a large part of our affordable housing stock.”
Wendy McCobb appeared as a spokesman for mobile home park issues. McCobb focused on upcoming propositions dealing with eminent domain. She vehemently opposes Proposition 98 because it contains a provision that will phase out rent control for mobile home owners across the state.
“When a person sells their coach rent control on the space will disappear,” said McCobb. “Why would anyone want to buy it if they can’t afford the rent? There goes our equity.”
McComb says a lot of her park’s residents are seniors who count on the earned equity to pay for care when needed. She feels rent control is effective and helps preserve the mobile parks, the last affordable housing in many areas.
“There are already cost of living increases built into rent control,” said McComb. “Park owners are still making a profit.”
McComb favors Proposition 99 saying it does not affect rent control and still protects people’s homes from eminent domain. In the audience, Bob Warnagieris, an executive on the board of AARP, agreed saying that Proposition 98’s advertising is very misleading and it is opposed by AARP.
Jill Martinez, who is running for the 24th congressional district and currently working for People’s Self Help Housing, next explained how her nonprofit corporation provides affordable housing in three Central Coast counties.
According to Martinez, one of their Santa Barbra developments was re-named “Miracle on Ladera Street” after the transformation of a derelict building into a shining symbol of what affordable housing can mean to residents.
“When people live in poor conditions it affects everybody,” said Martinez who described the poor health and social conditions that tenants suffer in slum-like conditions. “There is nothing wrong with people making money but not at the expense of these people.”
Martinez, working in affordable housing for 18 years, said her organization has built units starting at $400 and rehabilitated old buildings to create housing. Martinez’ cited their newest project, El Patio on Palm and Thompson in Ventura, as a chance to see their work firsthand. Their goal is to give people a leg up and give seniors stabile housing. That message hit home with the crowd and people quickly asked how to bring such a nonprofit project to Ojai.
Karen Kaminsky, Help of Ojai advocate for senior and disabled housing, next shared two stories of seniors on the Whispering Oaks waiting list, the 101-unit subsidized housing complex on Ojai Avenue.
“It takes three to five years to get an apartment,” said Kaminsky. “My 81-year-old client had been living with her son until he was forced to move in with a friend. She’s now in Casitas Springs in a goat shed waiting to get in. Another older man is up by Summit, taking care of property and animals in return for board. Now his landlords are losing their property and he can’t find a room in town for less than $500.”
“It shouldn’t be this way,” said Kaminsky . “These are the people who should be least affected. They’ve done their jobs and been good citizens. We’re not providing on any level, what these people need.”
Sue Broidy, commissioner for the Area Housing Authority of Ventura County, ended the discussion with a call to action.
“I’ve been the squeaky wheel calling for our commission to be more than a pass-through for federal money,” said Broidy. “We need to be an advocate for new affordable housing. I’m for smart, sustainable growth and I think the only organization we should invite should be a nonprofit group.”