Religious Leaders Call For Action to End Homelessness in Ventura

Ventura religious leaders gathered in front of Ventura’s City Hall Thursday evening. More than 100 people showed up to the event to get the attention of elected officials, asking them to come up with a plan to help the homeless in our community. The event included multiple speakers and prayers, as well as a candlelight vigil and singing.

The main message folks were trying to get across is that all lives matter. A diverse group of more than a dozen Ventura religious leaders came to the event with bedrolls in hand. The leaders said they were trying to prove a point that homelessness can impact anyone in our community.

“Twenty-five percent of us are one incident away from being out on the streets her in Ventura. So that could be me that could be you,” said First Christian Church Pastor Jonathan Hall.

The gathering on Ventura’s city hall steps was prompted after John Frazier, a homeless veteran, was set on fire while he was asleep in a sleeping bag at the beach off of Seaward.

Police say three suspects poured lighter fluid on Frazier and then lit him on fire. Police are still searching for suspects, and Frazier remains in the hospital recovering from second and third-degree burns on 40 percent of his body. While he recovers, religious leaders are encouraging city officials to step up and use their leadership to end homelessness in Ventura.

“The city, when it comes to chronic homelessness, has taken an approach to focus on shopping carts and panhandling and increasing a law enforcement presence and the homeless population has stayed the same, so we think it is time for another approach,” said Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura Rev. Han Christian.

“I think we have the funds to help solve the problem with housing first or prevention problems, which have a proven track record, because I think no one wants to see people out on the streets and I think we can all come around that issue,” said Hall.

“There is no place for people to go. We want a place where people can go 24 hours a day and be there, and get their short-term needs met and be part of a plan for addressing their long-term needs,” said Christian.

Organizers urged people to come to Monday night’s City Council meeting and speak up on the issue. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday and organizers are asking the group to meet at city hall at 5:30 p.m.