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Farmworker housing is forum topic
Group to discuss ways to influence city plans
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Some live in garages, while others are housed in trailers or overcrowded apartments. They are Ventura County farmworkers who cannot afford to live in homes of their own because of their low incomes.
In 2002, the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance called it "a crisis calling for community action." In early 2004, the alliance held a summit calling for change that would spur affordable farmworker housing. The Ag Futures Alliance formed as a countywide group and birthed the "House Farm Workers! Project" that same year.
Now, there are more than 400 farmworker homes in the county that either have been built, are under construction, or have been approved or identified for that use by cities.
For the first time, city groups that work with the countywide alliance will meet, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Faulkner Farm, 14292 W. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula.
They will celebrate their successes advocating, supporting and helping bring about the housing. Attendees also plan to discuss challenges and future efforts to get more housing in the county.
"It seems like a good point at which to kind of take stock, because there has been progress in all the cities in which we have groups working," said Ellen Brokaw, chairwoman of the alliance's housing task force.
"I don't think it's a milestone, but it's a marker."
Each city group is different because communities have individual needs, but one common goal to be discussed is how a group can influence a city's housing element.
A housing element, which is part of a city's general plan, is meant to address existing and projected housing needs for people of all economic backgrounds. Attendees will be trained on how they can make sure their city addresses farmworker housing, said coordinator Jessica Arciniega.
"If farmworkers don't have a place to live, then what does that mean for agriculture (in this county)?" Arciniega asked. "Agriculture is part of our county, and farmworkers are as well. I think it's important because it's essential to support agriculture, and it's something that is needed to ensure that we have the balance of housing in our community."
To RSVP, contact Arciniega at 486-9665 or send an e-mail to housefarmworkers@verizon.net.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 30, 2007 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SOLUTION: If the farmers want to keep thier workers, let them take a portion of thier land and build the homes on that land. At thier expense.
Alot of young college kids would love to live on thier own. BUT with the high costs of rent and all they aren't able to. Its really a shame !
Come here get illegally, get free medical, food stamps, wic, and now low income housing !!!! Pathetic !!!!!
Posted by shaver_one on May 30, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But they won't leave. There's no incentive to leave. And now, the Feds are going to give them amnesty.
Deport all 12 million illegals back to their home countries. Let the Low-Risk prisoners incarcerated in our jails work the fields.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 30, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geoman your right ! And the list could go on, think of how many teachers we could let go....how the class sizes would be smaller and legal children could be taught better . 12 million ! Holy cow that is crazy. Even our car insurance would go down ! So many incentives for the legals that we dont mind paying 5.00 for that head of lettuce !! Cause I know someone is gonna come on here and say that ! Give me a break !
Believe me jail trustees would LOVE to get out and feel the sunshine and do the work !
Posted by venturapagan on May 30, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My fiance and I make a decent living here, and WE can't afford to buy a condo, let alone a house around here, plus a car payment! We commute together sharing one vehicle because we can't afford to fix our other one, let alone buy another car. We pay our taxes, we don't break the law, but WE don't get free anything. Oh, I forgot; we're white. Maybe if I change my name to Lopez or Rodriguez...or move out of California all together.
Posted by coach04 on May 30, 2007 at 1:45 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by GuideDog on May 30, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All this is a subsidy for the Ventura County agricultural industry. It is just a necessary part of the real price of your strawberries, lemons, avocados, etc.
In Santa Barbara, for example, they subsidize low cost housing units so that those working in local service industries (restaurants & hospitality, etc.) can bus tables, make beds, etc., for minimum wage. Daily commutes from Oxnard and Santa Maria costs more these days than it would be worth for a minimum wage job and jobs were going unfilled.
Posted by venturapagan on May 30, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not against Mexicans, I'm against ANYONE who breaks the law, which includes sneaking into another country, and working without a legal right to, so they can send the money back to their home country and waive that country's flag HERE. In any other country in the world, they'd have been shot at the border (which isn't how we should necessarily handle it either.) My mother is not a citizen either, but she took the time to legally prepare all the necessary documentation to come here, BEFORE she came (married an American serviceman). Now she works a full time job, has a green card, pays her taxes, and doesn't break the law in any way. She isn't from Mexico, but she resents the fact that people who get here illegally seem to get everything handed to them, and she's gotta jump through INS hoops to humour them every time they wanna change the rules. I think we need to get our non-violent criminals out in the fields to work off their sentences; beats filling up the jails!
Posted by kelly13 on May 30, 2007 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, I remember what America stands for. We are a nation of laws. And pulling the race card when someone mentions the word illegal doesn't cut it anymore. By now we all understand it is legal and illegal. If this housing is for legal, low income farm workers most people would be in favor of the project. But if illegals are going to get another benefit at our expense to make more money for some rich corporation, don't be surprised if people won't stand for it. We have had enough. No people in any country are more giving and welcoming than Americans but we have been taken advantage of by ungrateful illegals who keep demanding more. Unfortunately for us, we have elected officals that are run by corporate big money and keep giving benefits to slave labor to benefit themselves at the expense of middle America...me and you. I'd like to see more projects that give benefits to being legal.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 30, 2007 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ravensnest, I totally agree !!! None of our children now are going to be able to afford a house in the future. Its really sad ! Why not make some nice low income housing for people who are here legally working a eight hour job everyday ??
Regardless of race as long as they are legal !
I applaud you for your hard work ! But honestly in the state of Calif. Its gonna be almost impossible. You may consider moving!!!!
Coach04! Please anyone can do that job ! It doesn't take an illegal to perform it. And yes alot of white people as you call them have ! Its not being racist. My relatives are hispanics and 90% of my friends yet they are here legally!!! They haven't broken any laws !!!!!!
Ravensnest, Again we are on the same page. My sister in law also married my brother when he was in the service. She went through all the necessary paperwork and is now a legal citizen ! Do you know how many in jail would love to work off part of thier sentence !!!! THOUSANDA and maybe millions! Believe me they would do it in a heart beat. It woud save the overcrowding and save tax payers money!
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