Affordable housing available in Camarillo
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

Christmas may come early for 13 local families looking for affordable housing.

Ventura County Housing Authority officials announced during last week's Camarillo City Council meeting that a 13-unit affordable housing project on Calle La Roda is on track for completion by early December.

Executive Director Douglas Tapking told the council that construction has begun on the $4.6 million building that broke ground in early March.

He said none of the two and three bedroom apartments have been taken and that to qualify a family must make between 50 to 60 percent of the median income- around $40,000.

The project, Tapking said, was financed in February mainly with state tax credits- about $3 million- while the city, a bank loan and the housing authority paid the rest.

Tapking also announced that there are still about 30 apartments available at the Mira Vista Village Senior Apartments on Ponderosa Road.

The housing authority, along with investors SunAmerica and Just People Inc., partnered with the city last year to purchase the 304-unit apartment complex for $54 million.

Tapking said his agency and the city bought the apartment complex to keep much-needed affordable housing available for the city's seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes.

The deal hit a bump in the road shortly after the agreement was made when housing authority officials realized that for the project to qualify for state-funded tax credits, 60 residents who make more than 60 percent of the area family median income, about $39,000, would have to move out.

Longtime Mira Vista residents were upset by the news, fearing they'd be priced out of the local real estate market.

The city, however, voted to approve an additional $300,000 for the deal, which saved some 30 seniors who make between 60 to 80 percent of the area median income- about $45,000- from having to move.

Tapking said about 40 seniors eventually opted to move on their own or didn't qualify because of income.

The housing authority hired Ventura-based Hamner, Jewell & Associates to help those who had to move find new housing. The consulting firm specializes in assisting public agencies with real estate deals and moving.

Because the client moves are kept confidential, officials with the Hamner and Jewell wouldn't comment on how well the moves went.

According to Tapking, average rent for a two-bedroom apartment at Mira Vista is about $850- compared to $1,200 for a typical twobedroom apartment in Camarillo.

Housing authority officials said it takes up to 40 days for qualification paperwork to clear all the necessary channels and that seniors who want to apply for housing at Mira Vista should do so sooner rather than later.

Tapking added that applicants can lose out on an available apartment if they delay in either filling out or sending back paperwork.

"That doesn't help you, that doesn't help us. That's a real problem," he said.