KRIS KRISTOFFERSON BENEFIT RAISES $80,000 FOR FARM WORKER HOUSING
The Kris Kristofferson concert was held Saturday, May 30th at the Majestic Theater, and almost 700 people attended the performance. Prior to the concert, a multi-media presentation produced in conjunction with the Farm Bureau entitled “A Home of Their Own” with an introduction by Martin Sheen was shown. Ellen Brokaw was presented with a plaque honoring her years of service with the Ag Futures Alliance Farm Worker Housing Task Force.
“We were so fortunate to have raised $80,000 to build safe, affordable homes for farm workers” said committee member Ellen Brokow. “We have a long road to go, but the children of the farm workers were the big winners of the evening’s event.” Proceeds from the silent auction will be used to provide educational support for some of these children.
We could not have had such a successful evening without the support of Limoneira Company, our presenting sponsor, and the many other generous sponsors. “Our businesses, restaurants, and farmers continually rise to the occasion to support our community” said Tim Kilcoyne, owner of the Side Car Restaurant who organized the food and oversaw the food and wine service by youth from City Corps. Gail Weller Brown, chair person for the committee concurs. “What a great team effort!” Everybody pulled together to create a special evening. We had wonderful silent auction items, Gail Pidduck’s beautiful artwork, and printing sponsored by Frank Boross from Clark’s printing. Jeff Becker from the Becker Group, and Affinity Bank let us use their property for signage. Thank you also goes to Mark Hartley and Jim Rice who donated their beautiful restaurant for the sponsor reception.
For more information about the Kris Kristofferson concert or about the House Farm Workers Program, please contact Sonja Flores at 805 921-0430 or email .
What We Do
House Farm Workers! is a project of the Vetura County AFA Farm Worker Housing Task Force founded in 2004 to promote and support the development of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing for farm workers through community education, dialogue and advocacy. Its’ accomplishments include:
Facilitating the development of 357 farm worker housing units underway or being planned and considered in the cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Ventura and the unincorporated area.
Growing the task force membership and building an e-mail network of 800 supporters throughout the county. The network is utilized to mobilize members to speak at County Board of Supervisors meetings and City Council meetings when policies affecting housing for farm workers are considered.
Facilitating the development of five farm worker housing groups in the cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Ventura and helping launch a work force housing group in Thousand Oaks. The city groups have become actively involved in supporting the development of farm worker housing by meeting with city council members, landowners and funders, and identifying potential sites. See city group meeting schedule for dates, times and places of meetings.
The Challenge
Of the more than 20,000 farm workers who cultivate and harvest Ventura County crops, two thirds are permanent county residents. Like all families, they need access to services, schools, recreation and shopping. Ventura County’s housing market is among the least affordable in the United States. The annual income needed to rent a 3 bedroom apartment in Ventura County in 2005 was $85,080 (National Low Income Housing Coalition). Farm workers face this market with low agricultural wages and few other resources. A recent report on agriculture by the Work Force Investment Board in Ventura County estimated a farm worker’s annual wages average approximately $17,000. As a result, farm workers must pool their resources to live in over-crowded apartments or houses, and sometimes live in garages or sheds not intended for human habitation.
Photos from top:
- Due to the limited space, this farm worker family has moved their living room outside to accomodate for more sleeping quarters inside of the home.
- On the farm worker housing tour, participants were able to go inside a small two bedroom home of a farm worker family of six.
- The next two photos show successful projects. We are making a difference!