Ask the Director – Elena Brokaw
January 1, 2005
Society today: is it a single word oxymoron? Even though society is dependent upon the care and concern for its members, many of the messages we receive today push us toward self-interest and isolation. December, a month that traditionally symbolizes a time of giving and generosity, has been hijacked, it seems, into a time of materialism.
However, the City of Ventura was lucky to see a December that brought many community efforts that coalesced our citizens around common interests. City employees and the community worked diligently to ensure that two initiatives were successfully achieved: Camp Hope, a temporary sheltering site for the Ventura Riverbed dwellers, and the Holiday “Rain Check” Festival, designed after the annual Holiday Street Festival was rained out.
How did Camp Hope come about?
The idea for Camp Hope came about during the course of a series of well-attended
Community Dialogues, at which the issue of where the Ventura Riverbed
dwellers would go after their camps were dismantled to ensure their long-term
safety. Councilmember Neal Andrews articulated the need for a “Camp
Hope,” where people could go with their pets, store their belongings,
and receive healthcare and social services.
The needs for Camp Hope were many and diverse. Through a community request for assistance through volunteer services and donated goods, the tools for Camp Hope were compiled. Volunteers assisted the displaced homeless during the transition, and provided them with moral support, clothing, storage opportunities and pet care. Ventura Rental, Spay/Neuter Animal Network (SPAN), The Wharf, FoodShare, County of Ventura, The Turning Point Foundation and Catholic Charities were major donors to the effort.
What happened after Camp Hope?
A core group of 30 homeless continued to meet with representatives of the
nonprofit group Turning Point, and have recently moved to the Emma Wood
State Beach campground for at least 30 days. Community and City representatives
and homeless individuals will continue to meet to identify long-term
alternatives.
What happens when the Holiday Street Festival is rained out?
Four weeks ago, my answer would have been: nothing. Mounting a nine-block street fair, with 300 vendors and six stages of entertainment, is a months-long process. However, the City’s Special Events staffs were overwhelmed by the calls they received requesting that the Festival go on!
And so they swung into action, working almost 24 hours a day to put together a miniature version of the Street Festival in just four days. The end result was a fair in Plaza Park with 100 vendors, live entertainment, and thousands of happy visitors.
What is special about these efforts?
Neither could have happened without the commitment of hundreds of volunteers.
In a time when self-sufficiency is valued, there are times when you just
can’t do it alone.
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 805.658.4731 or emyles@ci.ventura.ca.us.
If you have a question you would like to have answered in a future column, please email knicely@ci.ventura.ca.us