Oxnard housing director outlines programs, warns of HUD funding risks

Brenda Lopez, director of the City of Oxnard housing department, gave City Council members an overview of the departments seven divisions and the programs they operate, saying the agency administers Section 8 vouchers and public housing, runs resident services and homeless-response efforts, manages entitlement grants, and monitors dozens of affordable housing developments.

"Something that is a little bit unique to the City of Oxnard is that our local housing authority is actually embedded or part of the housing department," Lopez said, explaining the housing authority maintains a separate budget but works closely with department staff. She said the department has 68 employees across seven divisions.

Lopez described the Housing Choice Voucher program and specialty vouchers (including emergency housing vouchers and VASH for veterans). She said the department distributes roughly $30,000,000 in housing-assistance payments on behalf of tenants, with tenants typically paying 30% of their gross income toward rent. On inspections and eligibility, Lopez said units in assisted programs are inspected regularly and the department verifies and recertifies household eligibility.

On public housing, Lopez told council members the housing…