From the Executive Director: Rodney Fernandez

Welcome to Cabrillo’s neighborhood. Although it seems like only yesterday that we worked with families at Cabrillo Village to buy land and lay down roots, we’ve spent the past 26 years providing more than 30,000 people with affordable housing opportunities and educational resources. Our goal is to assist people in enhancing their living situations through affordable housing and, thereby, improving their lives.

In addition to seeing individual lives change, we have also seen communities prosper. Years ago, the impact of affordable housing development to low-income families was measured in creating more stable communities and giving individuals a better quality of life through their transition into safer, more decent, and affordable homes. We now know that affordable housing impacts the bottom line of a community as well. It has been estimated that for every dollar spent, between four to seven dollars are funneled back into the local economy. So, if you multiply the 1,000 units of affordable housing CEDC has created by this factor, we estimate that we have helped return $700 million back into the communities we serve. That’s a hefty contribution. Over the years, we’ve proved that building and maintaining affordable communities isn’t just a good thing to do, it’s a smart thing to do.

While our mission is to produce homes people can afford, our core value is people and vibrant neighborhoods. Affordable housing improves the quality of people’s lives; it upgrades neighborhoods by inspiring property investment, stimulating local economies and building community pride. In 2000, the CEDC Board of Directors set the bar high for a new level of affordable housing production. These units are the beginning of our commitment to bring the 1,000 units into various communities. Families look out for one another and the neighborhood becomes safe and more vibrant. Affordable shelter means that families have more disposable income to support their families, save for the future and to build a better life. Renowned national community economic development leader, Joe McNeely states: “Affordable housing developed by the non-profit sector yields the double-double bottom line; it’s good for the economy and good for the soul.” We’re glad to have pioneered affordable housing in Ventura County and future work in Santa Barbara County and look forward to continuing to lead the effort for many years to come.

-- Rodney Fernandez, Executive Director