LIFT UP YOUR VOICE

STREET RETREAT

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2013 AT 3PM

AT MISSION PARK IN DOWNTOWN VENTURA

This January, Lift Up Your Voice is hosting the Social Activist Leadership Training Fellows, a group of UU Young Adults from across California who have made a commitment to become a faith based activist, through a year of intensive experience and training. They are coming to visit with us, because our Lift Up Your Voice program is one of the most successful congregation based advocacy programs in the United States.

The SALT Fellows will learn not only about Homelessness in Ventura, but also about how a congregation can transform and be transformed by an issue they focus their time, talent, and treasure on in their local community. They will also learn about how to build coalitions, how to do direct advocacy and activism, and how to involve a congregation in such transformative work. We will explore the power of storytelling, and we will also learn about the power and practicality of institutional change.

While this training will be for the SALT Fellows and members of the Lift Up Your Voice Action Team, the entire congregation is invited to participate in our 2^nd Annual Lift Up Your Voice Street Retreat, on Saturday, January 12^th at 3pm in Mission Park in Ventura. We will spend 4 hours walking the streets of Ventura, encountering our city in a whole new way… and allowing that encounter to transform us. Afterwards we will have reflection, and a soup dinner. If you do not wish to walk the street retreat but still want to participate, we ask that you bring soup and bread, and sit to listen…

VENTURA COUNTY ANNUAL HOMELESS PERSONS COUNT DAY -- JANUARY 29TH 2013

Join other volunteers from across Ventura County in the annual counting of our homeless population.  The data that we collect in this count will be used to help determine services and to express to the state and federal government what the need is for assisting our homeless population in Ventura.  Lift Up Your Voice has a tradition of providing many of the volunteers for this important work, and we call upon all LUYV Volunteers to turn out again this year.  To register for a shift, please visit http://www.volunteerventuracounty.org/user/events/one.tcl?event_id=10549963888 to sign up for a shift.  Training will be offered prior to the day of the count. 

PAST DEVELOPMENTS of INTEREST:

SUCCESS!!! THE VENTURA CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CEDC LOS ANGELES AVENUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT!!!

LUYV CALL TO ACTION!!! DECEMBER 10TH AT THE VENTURA CITY COUNCIL.  COME LIFT UP YOUR VOICE!  

The Ventura City Council will continue to consider an appeal of the Design Review Committee’s approval of the Los Angeles Avenue Apartments, 50 affordable apartments, including 25 apartments for farmworkers,  at Snapdragon and Los Angeles Ave. in East Ventura. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 10th, 2012, at 6 p.m.

Why should you come out for this Call to Action?

• Ventura needs Clean and Safe Low Income Housing.
• Having affordable housing helps keep families from becoming homeless. 
• If the City of Ventura is going to consider a moratorium on low-income housing in downtown development, then it must maximize low-income housing in other parts of the city
• We need affordable homes and farmworker housing in Ventura; share a personal story of someone who needs or has benefitted from affordable homes
• The Design Review Committee approved plan, and the revised parking plan, is a direct outcome of the planning meetings and feedback from the Chapel Lane HOA and ad hoc members
• This is a well designed development with many green features including LEED Platinum design standards and onsite energy generation
• There are a total of 125 parking spaces that will serve this development; the 83 required spaces are onsite. This is enough parking.
• There is enough play space
• CEDC provides excellent and responsive onsite property management
• This project will generate jobs and facilitate new infrastructure and street improvements that are sorely needed
• The environmental analysis for the Saticoy Village projects less traffic impacts than under previous development proposals that did not include the CEDC proposed development
• This development is consistent with city policies and programs – specific plan allowable density is 36 units/acre and calls for mixed commercial and residential uses; housing element; farmworker housing program (reference City staff report)
• This project is an integral part of the larger mixed use Saticoy ViIlage development; delays to the CEDC project will threaten not only the housing project’s viability but also the financial stability of the commercial project

 Homeless Persons Memorial Service -- December 16th, 2012 at 3pm in Plaza Park

This year's homeless person's memorial service was a complete success, and we want to thank everyone who particpated!  The Ventura Star wrote an excellent article on the service, which can be found at http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/16/ventura-service-remembers-homeless-people-who/?partner=RSS

Ventura City Council

Candidates: Where They Stand On Homelessness

ALL Candidates, new and incumbant, were invited to "Take The Pledge" and respond to the following:

As a candidate for the Ventura City Council, I pledge to the residents of this community:

1. I will seek opportunities and take actions to end homelessness in the City of Ventura.
2. I will strive to help the City of Ventura implement the 10 Year Strategy to End Homelessness.
3. I will work to encourage other city council members to do the same.

If you're an incumbent in this City Council election, you made this pledge two years ago. Will you again make this pledge? If not, why not?
As a new candidate, will you make this pledge? If not, why not? 

Here's What Your Candidates Have To Say:

Brian Lee Rencher, MBA
"With the exception of myself (I choose to live outdoors) and any other free-minded individuals such as myself, I accept the pledge to assist those that wish to be assisted (not arrested)."

Cheryl Heitmann
"Yes I will take the pledge. Ending homelessness will take all of us working together."

Carl Morehouse
"Yes, I once again firmly pledge to 1,2, and 3."

Melody Joy Baker
"I would take the pledge except the City's 10 year strategy will fail when the City continues to sponsor and pay for ALCOHOLIC EVENTS, such as the recent "BEER FESTIVAL " when alcohol and drugs are the #1 cause of ongoing homelessness. When the City stops these events, I will sign the pledge."

10 Year Strategy to Prevent Homelessness

On Monday, July 25, 2011, the Ventura City Council voted unanimously in favor of seven staff-recommended 'high priorities' as efforts continue on the 10-Year Strategy To End Homelessness.
To watch this evenings video, click on the Link:

http://cityofventura.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&;clip_id=749

When the Video appears, select the option: "Jump To" and choose #8 to watch the staff presentation, public comments and discussion in its entirety.

Specific times within the video that may be of interest:

2:41:40 Lift Up Your Voice Beth Sutherland addressing City Council requesting "bold leadership"
3:19:09 Mayor Fulton summary
3:20:40 Mayor Fulton on creating a shelter - Ventura's single highest priority

Council Staff Report and Recommendation Link:
http://www.cityofventura.net/files/file/meetings/city_council/07-25-11/item%2008.pdf