Job, legal help to be offered for homeless at Oxnard Plaza Park

The personal belongings of a transient are packed up on a stroller as a farmers market takes place in Plaza Park in July.

The city of Oxnard and dozens of homeless services providers will be at a downtown park Wednesday to help those who are living on the streets.

Free food, job placement and legal services will be offered at the Homeless Resource Fair at Plaza Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"There's been such a large increase of people living in the streets, we’re developing a one-stop resource fair at Plaza Park," said Mark Alvarado, the city's homeless assistance coordinator. 

One of the goals is to get homeless individuals to enroll in a database system that tracks their case management history. The system, used by service providers in the county, manages the intake of homeless individuals and lists previous case managers who have worked with them.

"That’s the starting point to establishing a pathway to get them out of homelessness," said Alvarado.

About 30 governmental entities, job agencies and nonprofit service providers will be at the park to offer help. The Salvation Army, Interface Children and Family Services, Gold Coast Health Plan and other organizations will be there. A mobile health clinic will be on site, and haircut services will be available.

More:California cities challenge court ruling on homeless sleeping, camping in public

'We've never done anything like this'

In recent days, city and community leaders have been passing out fliers to spread the word about the resource fair. It's the first such event led by the city's housing department. Organizers are expecting to see more than 100 people.

"We've never done anything like this, it's been a huge task," Alvarado said.

Depending on the success of the event and the need that's out there, Alvarado said the city could host another one in the near future.

The homeless population has become more visible in recent years and the city has been pressured by residents and businesses to curb the impacts. 

Last month, the City Council passed an anti-vagrancy ordinance that prohibits camping in downtown parks. The ordinance was approved at a time when the city continues to struggle finding a site for its permanent homeless shelter.

Related:California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills to speed homeless shelters

Currently, a temporary homeless shelter is at the site of the former National Guard Armory, but the goal is to find a new location that is farther from the Oxnard Airport and away from the path of planes. Earlier this year, Mercy House became the operator of the shelter. Mercy House is among the service providers to participate in the resource fair.

Alvarado said the plan is to continue operating the shelter at the former armory until a permanent site is secured.

Wendy Leung is a staff writer for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at wendy.leung@vcstar.com or 805-437-0339. You can also find her on Twitter @Leung__Wendy.