Camarillo council accepts $7.3 million ERF award, approves contract to install six temporary housing units at Berry Street

The Camarillo City Council unanimously approved two housing items that together use state and federal funds to add temporary and permanent supportive housing in the city.

At the meeting councilors ratified acceptance of a $7,300,000 Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) grant and approved a professional services agreement to purchase and install six detached temporary units on a city‑owned lot at 2361 Berry Street. Both votes were unanimous (5‑0).

Why it matters: the ERF grant funds a pair of coordinated projects — a nine‑unit permanent supportive housing development on Arneal Road and the six temporary units on Berry Street — intended to create a shorter, supported path from street outreach to permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.

What the council approved - ERF grant acceptance (ratification): city accepted $7,300,000 in ERF funding. Council recorded a unanimous vote (Yes: Martinez Bravo, Santangelo, Tremblay, Vice Mayor Tennyson, Mayor Kildee). Staff reported the city received the full grant check on March 31 and said there is no indication the state will retract the funds. - Professional services agreement for 2361 Berry Street: the council approved a $527,025 contract with Azure Printed Homes to supply five 120‑square‑foot units and one 180‑square‑foot ADA‑accessible unit, with staff authorization to add a 10 percent contingency ($52,702.50) if required. The contract covers site preparation, fencing, basic drought‑tolerant landscaping and delivery/installation. Council also authorized use of CDBG funds already programmed for housing activities to cover part of the cost.

Project and funding details - Arneal permanent supportive housing: a previously approved, planning‑commission‑backed nine‑unit, very‑low‑income mixed‑use project (two 2‑bedrooms and seven 1‑bedrooms) includes about 1,000 square feet of on‑site commercial/community space intended for Project Hope to provide appointments and services. - Berry Street temporary housing: the city will install six detached units (five at 120 sq ft and one at 180 sq ft ADA) on a narrow, 3,750‑square‑foot lot. Azure Printed Homes will manufacture the units at its Gardena facility; the product is ANSI and Build America Buy America compliant and uses a proprietary blend of recycled plastics, fiberglass and concrete. Units will include sanitary and cooking facilities and on‑unit HVAC. - Grant budget and timeline: staff presented the ERF budget allocation as $6,000,000 for construction of the nine Arneal units, $578,000 for hotel vouchers, $326,000 for developer fees (to be reallocated to construction management), $240,000 for two years of case management, $80,000 for operations through June 30, 2027, and smaller line items for security cameras, temporary RV storage and office supplies. Council was told the grant requires 50 percent of funds to be expended by June 30, 2026, 100 percent to be obligated by June 30, 2026, and full expenditure by June 30, 2027. - Operating deficit and future funding: staff projected an ongoing operating deficit for the Arneal project after grant funds are exhausted and said the city will pursue additional grants; if none are available, general‑fund support would be required. The staff presentation used conservative rent estimates ($572 monthly for 1‑bedrooms; $616 for 2‑bedrooms after allowances) and a 10 percent vacancy assumption to calculate rental income for the pro forma.

Service model and partners Project Hope will provide intensive case management and wraparound services to clients. For the Berry Street units, tenants will be screened and enrolled in Project Hope’s program and will receive ongoing case management; staff confirmed Project Hope — not the nonprofit listed in an Azure contract exhibit — will deliver services, and said they will adjust the contract wording to make that clear.

Council discussion and conditions Council members asked detailed fiscal questions about long‑term staffing, reporting requirements to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and the potential to use CDBG or other funds to cover operating gaps. Council member Tremblay asked staff to confirm that accepting the ERF grant did not create a fiscal obligation to operate the projects in perpetuity; the city attorney said there is no contractual obligation to the state beyond the grant termination date (April 2029) but cautioned that the city’s policy choices could lead it to continue services using local funds.

Quotes from staff and council Lisette Torres, a city housing staff member, described the two sites as “crucial waypoints along our housing continuum,” emphasizing that the temporary and permanent options are intended to work in tandem. David Sanchez, community development director, and other staff walked the council through site details, costs and timelines.

Next steps Staff will finalize contract edits (to reflect Project Hope as the services provider), pursue remaining CDBG and other grant allocations, and return to council with final budget and implementation timelines. The council approved both items and directed staff to return with materials to implement the projects and with future budget requests if grant funding does not cover ongoing operating costs.