THOUSAND OAKS : Group Seeks Funds for Homeless Center

A homeless advocacy group has asked Thousand Oaks for $50,000 to help buy a house that will be used as a daytime drop-in center, a city official said Thursday.

The Conejo Homeless Assistance Program wants to buy the three-bedroom house at 3046 Crescent Way, City Housing Services Manager Olav Hassel said.

Dick Farkas, a spokesman for the group, said volunteers have searched for more than a year to find a building suitable for a drop-in center. Last year, the group was unsuccessful in securing a lease on a building on Los Robles Road.

The group has operated a November-to-March shelter program for the past two years. More than 100 people were housed at seven Thousand Oaks churches and synagogues.

But the house will not be used as an overnight shelter, Farkas said. Volunteers plan to renovate the house and open a drop-in center where homeless people can take showers, receive information about jobs and get food from the Manna emergency food bank next door.

The house is listed for $179,800 and is located in an older section of the city called Old Town, a real estate broker said.

Hassel said CHAP is one of 12 nonprofit agencies that have asked for a portion of the $446,000 that the city has earmarked for social-service projects.

The City Council’s social services committee is reviewing the application of the group, which is seeking donations to make up the rest of the purchase price. The council is expected to award the grants in mid-May, Hassel said.