January 2025

Dear Community Members,

Happy New Year! Scroll down to view our 2023-24 Annual Report; important information for Medi-Cal recipients; details on how you can volunteer for this year's Point-in-Time Homeless Count; upcoming events; and more!

View HSA's 2023-24 Annual Report Video

The Human Services Agency (HSA) continues to make a lasting impact and create opportunities for a better future for all residents in Ventura County. Our 2023-24 Annual Report video includes highlights from the past year that showcase how we're working to bring HSA’s mission, vision and values to life! For additional information, view the annual report PDF.

We're excited for continued progress in this new year as we work in collaboration with our community to carry our mission forward in new and innovative ways.

Holiday Toy Drive Supports Youth in Out-of-Home Care

Last month, our Children & Family Services department and James Storehouse hosted the annual Holiday Toy Store at Ventura Missionary Church. Toys and other gifts were offered free to resource families providing out-of-home (foster) care for children and youth ages 0-21. Over 300 families visited the Toy Store to pick out holiday gifts.

We're extremely grateful to the Ventura County Fire Department's Spark of Love Toy Drive for providing the gifts and helping make the holidays brighter for local youth in out-of-home care. We also thank the County's General Services Agency for assisting with the transportation of items to the Holiday Toy Store, and District 1 Supervisor Matt LaVere and Chief of Staff Ana Melgoza for visiting and showing their support.

Join Us at VCAAA Workforce Committee's 2025 Job Fair

For the second consecutive year, the Workforce Committee of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s (VCAAA) Advisory Council will hold a job fair in conjunction with the 2025 CSVP Wellness Fest on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Goebel Center in Thousand Oaks. Both the Wellness Fest and job fair will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is FREE.

Employers scheduled to be at the job fair include:

• City of Thousand Oaks
• Comfort Keepers
• Conejo Valley Unified School District
• Royal Staffing
• Senior Helpers
• Workforce Development Board of Ventura County/America’s Job Center of California

Wellness Fest is an annual event dedicated to promoting health and well-being for older adults in the community. It is put on by the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) and more than 60 businesses, nonprofits and public service organizations will be represented, including the VCAAA.

For more information about the job fair, Advisory Council or other VCAAA programs, call 805-477-7300 or visit VCAAA.org.

HSA offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Together, we honor and celebrate King's legacy by helping create a better future for all.

CalFresh Food Assistance

CalFresh is a food benefit program that helps Californians by providing extra money each month to buy more groceries. The easy-to-use CalFresh Food benefits EBT debit card works at most grocery stores—in person and online—including your favorite stores like Vons/Safeway, Ralph’s, Amazon, Walmart and Trader Joe’s.

If you receive CalFresh benefits, you can double your CalFresh dollars at a certified farmers' market through the Market Match Program.

Visit our website or call 888-472-4463 for more details.

HomeShare: Matching Home Providers With Home Seekers

Ventura County Area Agency on Aging's (VCAAA) HomeShare program matches home providers—primarily older adults—with home seekers willing to help with light chore work, meal preparation, transportation, companionship, or a combination of these in exchange for affordable housing. Homesharing is an alternative way of meeting housing needs that benefits both renters and homeowners.

Visit the VCAAA website to learn more about the HomeShare program, including the application process, or call 805-477-7300.

Volunteer for the 2025 Homeless Count

The Ventura County Continuum of Care is looking for volunteers to assist with the 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time Count on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The purpose of the count is to obtain a snapshot census of people experiencing homelessness in Ventura County in a designated 24-hour period. This count is critical in demonstrating the need for homeless services and funding in the county. Your help is needed to ensure everyone gets counted.

During registration, you will be able to indicate the geographic areas in which you would prefer to complete the count. All registered volunteers must attend a live training in mid-January. For more information, email: VenturaCoC@ventura.org

Attention Medi-Cal Recipients!

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will issue IRS Form 1095-B (for Medi-Cal members who received full-scope benefits) by Jan. 31, 2025, for the 2024 tax year.

Your Form 1095-B shows your Medi-Cal coverage and can be used to verify that you had minimum essential coverage (or MEC) during the previous calendar year. You can use this information to complete your state and/or federal income tax returns. DHCS only sends Form 1095-B to people who had Medi-Cal benefits that met certain requirements, known as MEC, for at least one month during the tax year.

For additional information, visit the DHCS website.

$5 Safe Rides

Gold Coast Transit District's (GCTD) Safe Rides service provides affordable and reliable transportation every day between 4:30-7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight to individuals within the GCTD service area.

This service is open to everyone 16 and older. Fare is $5 per person each way. Older adults age 65 and older and individuals who are ADA-certified pay a reduced fare of $4 for Late-Night Safe Rides.

Advance reservations are recommended, and a minimum of one-hour notice is required. Visit the GCTD website for full details.

Veteran Services Orientation Tuesday, Jan. 14

The Employment Development Department and America's Job Center of California (AJCC) invite veterans and their family members to attend an orientation of services available to veterans. This event will take place Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 10-11:30 a.m. at America's Job Center of California, 2901 N. Ventura Rd. in Oxnard. Attendees will learn about:

• AJCC employment and training programs.
• Counseling and rehabilitation to get back to work and civilian life.
• VA education and medical benefits as well as federal and local benefits.

Call 805-288-8400 for more information and to register for this event.

The BenefitsCal website is an easy way to get the help you need with food, employment, health care, and more! Visit the site to:

• Apply for benefits.
• Upload documents.
• Report changes.
• Connect with a caseworker.
• Request a replacement benefit card.



BenefitsCal will even send you reminders when it's time to renew your benefits, which you can also do online! Visit BenefitsCal.com to create your account today.

For more updates, visit the Ventura County Human Services Agency website: VCHSA.org