As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving is ready to shine. Giving Tuesday, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, unites people worldwide in a powerful movement of generosity.
This year, Noozhawk invites you to make a difference right here in our community. With our Giving Guide, you can easily explore local organizations that need your support, empowering you to create a meaningful impact as we close out the year.
Visit our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section to find opportunities to donate and spread kindness throughout the community this holiday season!
In this interview Noozhawk spoke with Denise Bickerstaff, Director of Business Development and Administration at Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, to learn more about the nonprofit’s mission to create more affordable housing.
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
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 organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
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 the Cabrillo Housing Cooperative to own the property as a collective, and became the legal owners of the camp 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.
The new owners created the Cabrillo Improvement Association (CIA) as a nonprofit corporation and 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 established the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) as a stand-alone separate nonprofit corporation. 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 motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: Though Cabrillo EDC was founded back in 1981, 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 its biggest needs right now?
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. We also need volunteers to assist with tutoring, afterschool and mentoring programs for children and young adults.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: Much of our operational funding is generated by through property management activities. Our real estate development (acquisition, construction, etc.) activities are funded primarily through state and federal loans, private investment, and grants. While donations are not our largest source of funding, they play a critical role in funding activities for which there are not enough other sources available.
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.
Our homework clubs support school-aged children with afterschool activities and help with homework. We are also offer classes on topics such as ESL, immigration and citizenship, financial capability, health, nutrition, and wellness.
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
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: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: The Avina family has been positively impacted AND had positive impacts on their community. The Avina Family includes Sigifredo Avina Vasquez, his wife Eloisa Avina, and their 4 children. The Avinas are residents of Villa Cesar Chavez, a Cabrillo EDC property in Oxnard. The family of six had been living in a cramped one-bedroom apartment before moving to Villa Cesar Chavez.
They now reside in a townhome with three bedrooms, modern amenities, and a two-car attached garage. This new space gives the family room to spread out, while the children have quiet areas to complete their homework and the parents can relax after long work days. The family has used the supportive services provided by Cabrillo EDC. Sigifredo has attended ESL classes on the property, and the children have taken advantage of many youth activities. Their son David is a past recipient of the Cabrillo EDC’s Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund Scholarship, which has kept him motivated and focused on his studies while he attends Oxnard College.
The Avina family has become valuable and loved members of the Villa Cesar Chavez, community. They actively participate in monthly community meetings, are always willing to assist with event setup and cleanup and contribute to potluck gatherings and resident activity booths. The residents of Villa Cesar Chavez have created a supportive community, and the Avina family plays an active role within it.
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: In addition to quarterly newsletters, CEDC maintains an active presence in social media (Facebook, X, 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. Readers interested in our newsletters, media releases and press we have received may visit our website here: https://www.cabrilloedc.org/category/news/. 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 EDC.
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond 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 important or unique about your nonprofit that we haven’t covered yet?
A: We are very excited about our newest affordable housing developments. Under construction in Buellton is the Senior Village Apartments. Village Senior consists of 50 units (41 one-bedroom and 9 two-bedroom) that will be available to seniors and senior veterans. The property is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in Fall 2025.
Also under construction is Dolores Huerta Gardens, a 58-unit affordable housing property that will housing veterans and farmworkers in Oxnard, CA. This property will consist of 19 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units and 18 three- bedroom units and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2025.
Click here to support Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation’s mission towards safe and affordable housing in the area.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.