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Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously authorizes pursuit of state "Prohousing" designation
Summary
The Board heard a staff presentation on California's Prohousing ("Provivienda") designation, received supportive public comments from housing providers and advocates, and voted unanimously to authorize staff to proceed with the application and a 30‑day public outreach period.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized staff to pursue California's Prohousing ("Designación Provivienda") designation and begin the county's required public outreach.
Joey Warner, who identified herself as the county's assistant planner and manager for the Prohousing designation, told the board the designation is administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and "recibe la designación Provivienda nos permite acceso exclusivo al subsidio del programa de incentivos ProHusing" and gives jurisdictions priority for some state affordable‑housing funds. Warner described the application structure — including seven appendices — and said the program uses a points threshold ("un mínimo de 30 puntos") to demonstrate eligibility. She said Ventura County's internal evaluation estimates roughly "93 puntos," which would exceed the minimum and increase the county's competitiveness for state funding.
Warner outlined next steps and timing: after the public hearing the county will run a 30‑day public comment period, consolidate and respond to written comments, and submit materials to HCD; she said HCD's review could take "aproximadamente 2 meses" as staff begins preliminary reviews to meet state deadlines.
Public commenters voiced support for the application. Ricardo Torres, who identified himself as "director de asuntos comunitarios y de gobierno" for the county's largest public housing provider, urged the county to continue competing for state resources and said the agency manages "2,400 cupones" and about "1,100 lugares," calling the designation "crítico" for accessing funds that benefit residents across Ventura County.
Don Dyer, a housing consultant and local homelessness‑services board member, praised staff work and linked increased housing production to reductions in homelessness, urging acceleration of projects and flexible policies. Bárbara Macri Ortiz (via Zoom) and Linda Brunch Breiner of Transfer Ventura also thanked staff and endorsed the county's effort to obtain the designation as a tool to remove barriers and promote smaller‑scale affordable development.
Following public comment, supervisors thanked staff and community partners. The board member identified in the record as Supervisor López moved to adopt the recommended actions to proceed with the application; the motion was seconded and passed by a unanimous recorded vote. The chair closed the public hearing and directed staff to proceed with the outreach and application steps Warner described.
The county's immediate next steps are to open the 30‑day public comment period, publish materials and outreach notices in English and Spanish, consolidate public input, and complete the application appendices for submission to HCD; HCD's review and final determination will follow the department's process and timeline.
