KRIS KRISTOFFERSON SINGS FOR FARM WORKERS
A benefit to house farm workers presents Kris Kristofferson in a solo performance at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Saturday, May 30, 2009. There will be appetizers, wine (no host) and a silent auction beginning at 5:30 PM, with the concert starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available by calling (805) 648 2075 or online through the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau or Ticketmaster. Proceeds will be used to support the provision of safe, sanitary and affordable homes for farm workers and to give educational aid to their children.
To donate an item for the silent auction or for more information, please call House Farm Workers at (805) 921 0430.
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!