Foundation Steps in for Fire Victims

Read the full story below or on the Camarillo Acorn website

The Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant to a community based partnership providing relief and recovery support to undocumented immigrants recovering from the Thomas fire and mudslides.

The 805 UndocuFund is a partnership among grassroots organizations based in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties which are familiar to and trusted by undocumented and mixed-status households: Mixteco/Indigenous Community Organizing Project, Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy and Future Leaders of America.

To administer the 805 UndocuFund, the McCune Foundation and the Weingart Foundation provided grants for case management and leadership support. The VCCF is providing fundraising and fund administrative support. The Santa Barbara Foundation and the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation provided additional support for overhead costs.

With this latest VCCF grant, total funds raised for the 805 UndocuFund reached over $1.2 million. Now with only $30,000 remaining to be distributed, an additional $500,000 is necessary to assist qualified individuals already on a waiting list.

Additionally, the 805 UndocuFund partnership is seeking volunteers to interview affected families and to help victims fill out eligibility paperwork, process applications and other functions to help more than 1,000 affected families waiting for assistance.

An estimated 126,000 undocumented immigrants live and work in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The fund will assist individuals and families who have lost their homes, wages or employment due to the Thomas fire.

Some of the costs associated with living expenses may include temporary housing, home repairs, rent, groceries, child care expenses due to disaster-related school closure, essential household items, cleanup items, medical and dental expenses, tools and equipment required for work, school supplies, repair of essential vehicles, moving and storage expenses, legal document replacement, and funeral and burial expenses.

The 805 UndocuFund will also help affected families access other community resources that provide some economic relief.

For more information about the Ventura County Community Foundation, visit vccf.org.