Plans for a Thousand Oaks family justice center moved a step closer this week.
On Aug. 4, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a lease agreement for a home on the California Lutheran University campus. District Attorney Erik Nasarenko called the campus "a natural and logical fit" for the center, a sort of a one-stop spot for victims of crime.
It will be the county's third. In 2019, the county opened its first family justice center in Ventura. Its second, named after former Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, is expected to open next year in Oxnard.
The east county center is expected to provide easier access to those from Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley and nearby unincorporated areas who now have to travel to Ventura, officials
said. In Ventura, roughly 80% of people at the center are survivors of domestic violence. Others have reported sexual assault, child and elder abuse, human trafficking and hate crimes.
Officials initially looked for a building in Thousand Oaks and evaluated multiple sites, but shifted to university housing in discussions with CLU.
"What we realized is that we didn't need simply a building – walls, ceilings, floors. We needed a home," Nasarenko said, during the supervisors meeting.
The house on Faculty Street sits on the edge of the Thousand Oaks campus, located near Highway 23 and public transportation. The center will have ability to work with clinicians, interns, faculty and students at CLU, officials said.
The 60-month lease will cost $3,700 per month, with annual rent increases of 3%. The 13,000-square-foot property includes a one-story home, attached garage and yard.
Officials also plan to spend up to $1.2 million for tenant improvements to convert the residence into the center, work expected to take around six months to complete. The center could open as early as next year, officials said.
Why lease a home on a university campus?
Key requirements for the site included that the location be near a hospital and other medical facilities and be accessible by public transportation and a freeway, which were the case with the home.
Supervisor Jeff Gorell described the spot as central to the east county, close to Moorpark, Oak Park and Simi Valley. He also said that having a university partner in such a center has been shown to help with its success.
"We're very excited about this," Gorell said.
At the meeting, CLU President John Nunes described the move as "a win, win win," saying the community, students and those most vulnerable in the area would benefit.
The city of Thousand Oaks previously pledged to contribute funds toward the center, funds, officials said, could potentially be used to offset costs for renovations, the lease or operations.
More information about the county's Family Justice Center services is available at fjc.venturacounty.gov.
Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County DA's Office to lease Thousand Oaks home. Here's why
