Start the giving season off strong by donating to a local nonprofit organization in Santa Barbara County on #GivingTuesday, November 29th!
With your support these nonprofits can continue to thrive and serve those who need their services the most. This is why Noozhawk has re-launched its annual Good for Santa Barbara Section, so that finding a cause you connect with is made easy and donation information is readily available!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Denise Bickerstaff, Director of Business Development and Administration for Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation to learn more about how it ensures access to affordable, secure, and quality housing that creates the foundation for our residents to grow and thrive.
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation
Question: What is the name & mission of your nonprofit?
Answer: Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation develops and manages service-enriched, inclusive residential communities, ensuring access to affordable, secure, quality housing that creates the foundation for our residents to grow and thrive.
Q: How long has your nonprofit been in service and whom was it started by?
A: In 1975, farmworker families living in substandard housing conditions in Cabrillo Village (Saticoy, CA) received eviction notices from the labor camp’s grower-owners. Resisting the razing of their homes, 80 visionary farmworker families raised money to purchase the land, started Cabrillo Improvement Association (CIA), and became the legal owners as a cooperative on May 5, 1976. Working together, the families were committed to creating a vibrant, stable community that created jobs, increased self-sufficiency, and created growth opportunities for themselves and other farmworker families. Over the next five years, CIA rehabbed 80 homes, developed two new housing complexes, started three new business ventures to expand the neighborhood’s economic base, and provided social services to farmworker families. In 1981, in a decision to expand beyond its mission and original borders, CIA incorporated to become the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC). Since 1981, CEDC has completed 1,782 homes in forty-three (43) major housing developments and become a state- and a nationally- recognized community economic development corporation.
Q: What was the inspiration behind your nonprofit?
A: There continues to be a severe shortage of affordable housing in our region. Many of our residents come from unstable housing conditions: overcrowding, unsanitary and unsafe housing, or from living in garages, sheds, etc. Housing instability among families and children can be detrimental to family dynamics, child welfare, health, economic, and other outcomes. Affordable housing can improve a range of outcomes for families and children in combination with short-term and/or long-term services, and helps them tackle complex life challenges head-on. What we hear from our residents backs this up: with stable housing, the children have a place to study and their grades improve; residents are more willing to become involved with their neighbors and form a community. The combination of safe, decent affordable housing, and programs and services allow residents to improve their lives and their communities, creating a win-win for families and for our region as a whole.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded and what are your greatest needs?
A: While we rely on private investors and government funding building affordable housing, grants and individual donors are vital to our ability to provide services and programs once construction is complete and our residents move in. Our greatest need is for funds to provide programs and services for our residents as we do not receive government funding for those activities. We also need funds and equipment for our community rooms and computer labs at our properties so that we can provide access to computers and printers that residents can use to apply for jobs or resources, do homework and school reports, write resumes, etc.
Q: In what ways does your nonprofit utilize it’s funding?
A: CEDC utilizes the donations it receives to provide programs and services to our residents. Our Resident and Community Services (RCS) Department staff work with residents to identify programs that are most useful and work with resident volunteers to plan community-building activities so that neighbors can come together and support one another. We are pleased to be transitioning back to in-person programs. Our homework clubs will again be offered at our properties with school aged children. We are also offering the following program in-person once again: ESL, immigration and citizenship, financial capability, health, nutrition, and wellness. Cabrillo EDC created the Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund (RFLF) in 2011 to honor the legacy of founding Executive Director, Rodney Fernandez (1981-2011). The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund builds the leadership capacity and self-sufficiency for low-income residents through two channels: education scholarships and a mini grant program for community-led improvement projects. Since launching the fund, CEDC has awarded $3,250 in mini-grants to CEDC residents to fund resident-led initiative and community and $77,400 in scholarships to low income students.
Q: How do people get involved/volunteer for your nonprofit?
A: Volunteers are appreciated and welcome! Our greatest need is for volunteers to tutor our kids and help them with homework in our Afterschool Program. Many of our children do not have anyone to help with homework – their parents may have limited education and/or English language skills. In addition to helping with schoolwork, volunteers can read stories or lead groups in fun arts and crafts activities. Volunteers also serve as mentors by providing exposure to the different careers and life experiences they bring with them. Experienced professionals with backgrounds in construction, architecture, affordable housing, fundraising, communications, and related fields are encouraged to consider serving on our board of directors. Contact us for more information.
Q: Can you share one or two stories of individuals whose lives have been changed because of your organization?
A: The Magana Family recently shared their perspective and experience with us: “Cabrillo offers us the services of a dignified home. We have everything a home needs.” Mr. Magana said “Cabrillo is the best place I found to live – for me and my family. Cabrillo feels like a community.”
Resident Erika Palomar has lived at Azahar Place since it opened 9 years ago. Ms. Palomar said “my experience at Cabrillo is very nice. It gives us the opportunity to have a bigger and more beautiful home and, more than anything, for my daughters to have a very healthy and beautiful environment.”
Leticia Chaves has been a resident for 8 years. She told us: “For me, living with my family has been very important because before I lived in a garage with my two daughters. They had no space and we paid much more rent than in these affordable houses that Cabrillo offers to live in comfortably. We have activities, we’ve had nutrition classes, English classes, and cooking classes. We have celebrated birthdays, baby showers, and I think that Cabrillo gives us all those communities to live happily.”
Q: How does the work of your nonprofit get communicated to the public?
A: In addition to quarterly newsletters, CEDC maintains an active presence in social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram). We share news by issuing press releases and have received mention or have been featured in articles in the local and regional press. We also publish our annual report on line and send emails to our donors and friends, keeping them informed of what is happening at Cabrillo.
Q: Why should donors trust your organization and are there other ways to help outside of donations?
A: Transparency and stewardship are critical values at Cabrillo. We are proud of our Platinum seal of transparency from GuideStar. Please visit our website: www.cabrilloedc.org to support Cabrillo EDC’s mission to provide housing for individuals and families and donate.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your nonprofit that has not been mentioned above?
A: We are very excited about our newest affordable housing development: Dolores Huerta Gardens is a 58-unit affordable housing property slated to break ground in 2023 in Oxnard, CA. The new development aims to provide housing to both farmworkers and homeless veterans in the area. This property will consist of 19 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units and 18 three- bedroom units.
Click here to support Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation mission to ensure access to affordable, secure, quality housing that creates the foundation for our residents to grow and thrive.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.