VENTURA, Calif. – After serving for 10 days as a one-stop center for fire recovery information and assistance, the Local Assistance Center that was run to assist residents impacted by the Mountain Fire will close its doors on Saturday, November 23, at 7:00 p.m. Residents still seeking services are encouraged to visit the Center by Saturday or they may obtain services after Saturday by visiting existing local County and City of Camarillo government offices.
The County of Ventura and the City of Camarillo opened the Center on November 14 at the Ventura County Office of Education Conference Center to provide assistance to residents from all areas affected by the Mountain Fire. It has been staffed by a wide array of County, City and State agencies, as well as a number of non-profit organizations. Residents have used the Local Assistance Center to gather information and begin their recovery from the fire.
“Our county has faced significant challenges through another devastating wildfire, and we are proud to support our residents through the Local Assistance Center as we come alongside them in the process of recovery,” shared County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “The Local Assistance Center is a great example of the power of collaboration between local, state and nonprofit partners for the benefit of our community.”
Information will continue to be available on-site at the Center through the 23rd on the following topics: rebuilding, tax relief, business and employment assistance, debris removal, permits, housing, rental assistance, vital records, property assessments, stress management, and basic needs. Services such as replacement of driver’s licenses and connection to health care resources will continue to be offered.
Non-profits co-located on-site at the Center have also offered essential support services by providing residents connections to financial assistance, food distribution, clothing vouchers, pet food, blankets and hygiene kits.
“The Local Assistance Center has served as a great resource for residents as they navigate the process of recovery following the Mountain Fire,” said Melissa Livingston, Director of the Human Services Agency and Coordinator for the Local Assistance Center. “We are confident that residents can continue to receive this personalized level of support and service as they visit the offices of their city and county government or access information though the County’s Ventura County Recovers website.”
Operating hours for the Local Assistance Center through Saturday, November 23 will remain the same, with the Center opening at 9:00 a.m. and closing at 7:00 p.m. each day.
“Since the onset of this devastating wildfire, City and County teams have worked in close coordination on response and recovery efforts, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes,” stated Camarillo City Manager Greg Ramirez. “We fully recognize that the recovery and rebuilding process will be a marathon, not a sprint, for many of our community members. And we assure you that we are fully committed to supporting this recovery process and doing everything within our regulatory authority to help those affected rebuild and restore their lives.”
To further aid fire victims, the County offers recovery information via Ventura County Recovers. As well, a sign-up feature exists that allows residents to register their contact information to receive direct e-mail from County agencies at: venturacountyrecovers.org/recovery-notifications. Information from the City of Camarillo is available at: cityofcamarillo.org/mountainfire
