Press Releases

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced he secured significant federal funding for two public projects in Ventura County. Projects include developing a new park near Ojai and an interim shelter in Ventura.

“These federal investments will strengthen the well‑being of communities across Ventura County,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The new Meiners Oaks Botanical Park will give local kids and families a safe place to learn and play, while Ventura’s interim shelter will expand critical support for people experiencing homelessness. Together, these projects help build a more compassionate, resilient, and connected Ventura County.”

The County of Ventura has been awarded $850,000 to construct a nature-based park at 312 E. El Roblar Drive in Meiners Oaks, an unincorporated community adjacent to the City of Ojai. The Meiners Oaks Botanical Park will be a 2-acre “wild” park, designed for kids and families.

“The Meiners Oaks Park is the result of years of hard work, thoughtful community planning, and dedicated collaboration between residents and local leaders. It will provide lasting benefits to the Meiners Oaks community, from recreation and wellness to environmental sustainability, for generations to come. Because of the leadership of Congressman Carbajal and the funding he has secured, we are one step closer to turning a dilapidated lot into a beautiful community resource,” said Supervisor Matt LaVere, District 1.

The City of Ventura has been awarded $250,000 to develop an interim shelter that would serve individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The City’s current congregate emergency shelter has limited capacity. This new shelter would provide case management, housing navigation, and other supportive services.

“This federal funding will help strengthen the City’s efforts to support residents experiencing homelessness in our community,” said Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios. “We are grateful to Representative Carbajal for advocating for Ventura. Investments like these expand access to services, housing navigation, and the support people need to move toward long-term stability.”

The funding, which Carbajal championed over the course of the past year’s federal budget negotiations, was signed into law as part of the annual government appropriations process.

In the spring of 2025, Rep. Carbajal began to push for funding for these projects through formal requests to the House Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year 2026.

The funding was secured through the Community Project Funding (CPF) initiative first launched in 2022. Projects must be in the public interest, be good uses of taxpayer dollars, and be certified to not conflict with the representative’s personal financial interests.