The Oxnard Branch of Azusa Pacific University, based near the Esplanade in north Oxnard, is partnering with the Area Housing Authority of the County to take advantage of a newly enhanced community outreach program that provides free homeownership education services onsite for employers and Human Resource Departments throughout Ventura County.

Dennis Zuber, Director of the Oxnard campus, enthusiastically embraced the services to offer two presentations to his staff and faculty as well as to the students attending the university.

"As soon as we learned of the program offered by the Area Housing Authority, we took steps to bring the classes to our campus," Zuber said. "We were especially eager to learn of special homeownership programs available to educators through the State of California, and through Herocare Nation. Bringing these classes to our students and to our APU community makes perfect sense, as many of the students at APU are studying to become, or already are, education professionals."

The purpose of the class offered by the AHA is to inform participants of resources available throught the AHA to create a plan for homeownership. The class also emphasizes that safe, fixed-rate home financing options exist throughout the county. The seminars are information only, and there are never sales involved.

"Our next step will be to reach out to a broader portion of our community, to offer our conference rooms to the AHA, so that they may offer more of their free classes to the public at large," Zuber said. "The proposition is in keeping with our commitment to enhance our community, as well as with the commitment by the AHA to offer housing opportunities through community partnerships. We are delighted to be of service to the AHA."

Hundreds of households have benefited from the Area Housing Authority of the County's free service, which includes classes that cover the benefits of home ownership, along with an overview of resources for city, state and federal down payment and closing cost assistance programs. The classes also include free credit and FICO score review, household budgeting, and as well as assistance in creating a plan to move toward home ownership.

To learn more about offering the free AHA education series at your place of employment, call Linda Fisher-Helton at the AHA 480-9991 x 235.

A short video explaining the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura education programs can be seen at http://www.ahacv.org/home_buyers_workshop.shtml. Schedule of upcoming classes is available to the public is at http://www.AHAHomeBuyingSchool.

For more information about Herocare Nation, which serves all educators at both private and public schools, pre-school through university levels, visit http://www.Herocare.org.