Study and Action Plan
The final Phases 4 and 5 of the Project include the preparation of a Countywide Farmworker Housing Study and Action Plan, which will use survey data collected in Phase 3 to summarize farmworker needs, identify key policy, financial, and regulatory barriers, and solutions to housing development in the form of an Action Plan. A countywide community engagement will be conducted to discuss the draft Action Plan with all stakeholders and thereafter initiate implementation.
In 2023, the County of Ventura and House Farm Workers! were jointly awarded a $499,991 grant from SCAG through the Sustainable Communities Program – Civic Engagement, Equity and Environmental Justice (SCP-CEEEJ) funding. In addition, House Farm Workers! received $25,000 from the UC Thelma Hansen Fund Grant. Both grants will fund a portion of Phases 4 and 5.
In January 2025, the Project Team and SCAG collectively selected a technical consultant team comprising of ARUP, Estolano Advisors, and Economic Planning Systems, who along with community partner House Farm Workers!. will collectively complete the following to implement Phases 4 and 5.
- Develop a Countywide Farmworker Housing Study which summarizes survey data and information from countywide housing elements on current agricultural trends, labor patterns, farmworker housing needs, and constraints to housing development; refine countywide sites inventory to identify suitable infill sites for farmworker housing; identify different housing types/alternatives; review land use and development regulations/policies for each jurisdiction as constraints or advantages to farmworker housing; and identify potential financing strategies/funding gaps;
- Develop an Action Plan with potential solutions and responsibilities in the short/medium/long term for County/City governments, affordable housing providers, farmworker advocates, and other public and private sectors, including healthcare, transportation, finance, and education; and may also include identification of potential policy updates or regulatory reforms countywide; and
- Conduct a robust Community Engagement, including coordination with all cities, farmworker/youth community engagement, and a countywide event to discuss the draft Action Plan with all jurisdictions, stakeholders, farmworkers, and interested parties. The Project will be guided by the 45-member Advisory Council with representatives from key community organizations, agricultural businesses, farmworkers, and public agencies to ensure a cohesive and inclusive engagement. In order to accommodate the wide diversity of languages used by the County’s farmworkers and to conduct effective community outreach for the Project, key documents will be translated into Spanish, and multilingual presentations and interpretation shall be provided for all community engagement.
The final Study and Action Plan is intended to be presented to all Ventura County decision-makers, and implementation of the policies/programs in the Action Plan will encourage the cities and County to take action to facilitate the development of farmworker housing countywide. Implementation of the Action Plan is anticipated to be completed by the City/County governments along with affordable housing providers, farmworker advocates, and other public and private stakeholders, including those in the healthcare, transportation, finance, and education sectors.
Current Status:
The Coordination Committee is in the process of working with the consultant team who will be completing both phases. Please check back for updates.
For more information, or to get involved in upcoming engagements, please visit the Get Involved page. You can also contact Ruchita Kadakia at Ruchita.Kadakia@venturacounty.gov or House Farm Workers! at info@housefarmworkers.org
