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Housing Trust Fund VC contributes over $1.7 million to create 70 new affordable appartments

Five years after COVID-19, many are still struggling to return to normal after the uncertainty and instability of the pandemic. According to the Ventura County point-in-time survey, since 2020, the houseless population in Ventura County jumped from 1,787 adults and children to 2,358 in 2024. With a 31% increase in the homeless population in four years, there is an imminent need for developments like the Casa Aliento apartments in downtown Oxnard that meet this rising need head-on in innovative ways.

In the heart of Oxnard, a Vagabond Inn Motel, that had seen better days, is being transformed into a centrally-located 70-unit affordable housing community that will provide extremely low-income individuals, homeless individuals, or those at risk of homelessness permanent housing and an opportunity to find certainty and stability.

Rendering of the new Casa Aliento development

Revitalizing spaces and building community

Casa Aliento arose from a simple mission: Transform a temporary housing facility into permanent supportive housing with amenities, resources, and services for low-income and homeless individuals, prioritizing those vulnerable to the COVID-19 public health crisis and persons living with mental disabilities. Since December 2020, the Vagabond Inn has operated as a shelter under California’s Project Homekey, offering temporary housing for formerly homeless individuals. Current residents will be relocated within the site as the units are renovated, with some returning into permanent affordable housing at Casa Aliento once completed.

A second chance for opportunity

Housing Trust Fund VC provided a $1,726,038 bridge loan in support of the rehabilitation of the former Vagabond Inn motel in the heart of Oxnard to create Casa Aliento.

After revitalization efforts, the development will provide 69 affordable studio apartments, with 34 of the units designated as No Place Like Home (NPLH) units. NPLH units are designated to provide additional support for individuals living with mental disabilities. Upon completion, the development will serve low-income and homeless individuals at 30% AMI.

The revived development includes a central location, spacious units, upgraded HVAC systems, plentiful parking, and community amenities such as an outdoor dining area, garden boxes, a dog run, and a smoking area, residents will have access to a comfortable and secure living space to recover following setbacks that were brought on by the pandemic. Casa Aliento's resident experience will combine independent housing with comprehensive wrap-around services provided by Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) and Mercy House.

Substantial rehabilitation work will ensure the long-term functionality of the building. The development is scheduled for completion in early 2025.

"At a time when uncertainty has left too many without a home, transforming spaces like the former Vagabond Inn into Casa Aliento stands as a beacon of hope and innovation," said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. "By investing in forward-thinking developments that offer not just housing but the support and stability our community so desperately needs, we reaffirm our commitment to every neighbor. These developments are about restoring lives and reinforcing the belief that everyone deserves a home."

Original Vagabond Inn in Oxnard, CA

photo courtesy of Anthony Plascencia and the VC Star

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