As the collective voice of business for the Conejo Valley, we see every day how the lack of affordable housing affects far more than the real estate market. While our region needs housing at every price point, the shortage of attainable housing creates unique structural challenges that ripple throughout our workforce, our employers, our schools, and ultimately, the long-term economic competitiveness of our communities.
When teachers, nurses, first responders, and young professionals cannot afford to live near where they work, the consequences ripple throughout the local economy. Businesses face hurdles in recruiting and retaining talent, long commutes become the norm, and young families are forced to relocate. This isn’t just a social issue; it is a critical piece of economic infrastructure, just like transportation, utilities, or broadband.
A thriving economy does not happen by accident. Over the past six years, the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce has focused much of its advocacy on improving the policy environment needed to increase housing production across the board. Working in partnership with local leaders, the chamber has successfully advocated for 10 housing projects, resulting in approvals for more than 2,300 market-rate homes and 200 affordable units.
Our work has also extended well beyond individual developments. The chamber strongly supported the adoption of a 10% inclusionary housing ordinance in Thousand Oaks and championed the city’s 2045 General Plan — a landmark vision centered on strategic infill development and expanded housing opportunities. Today, we are seeing the fruits of those collaborative efforts with landmark sites currently under construction, including the T.O. Ranch project on Hampshire Road and the Oakwell development adjacent to Amgen.
Yet, decades of regional underproduction cannot be solved by sound land-use policy alone. Increasing our overall housing supply is essential but ensuring a portion of those homes remain affordable is equally critical if we want to maintain a diverse workforce and a resilient local economy.
That realization led our Community Foundation to ask a practical business question: What if corporate leaders and local institutions viewed a small portion of their reserve funds not simply as passive investments, but as working capital for community outcomes?
At the chamber’s recent Recognition Gala, and with more than 300 business and community leaders present, the Greater Conejo Valley Community Foundation presented a $25,000 Community Impact Note to the Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. This was not a grant or a donation; it was a strategic investment.
The Community Impact Note directly supports a Revolving Loan Fund that provides below-market financing to affordable housing developments during the critical, early stages of a project. This initial capital often determines whether a project successfully moves forward or remains on the drawing board. What…
Read More: Conejo Valley chamber is investing in affordable housing
