Cabrillo Village

Although CEDC was instrumental in building and rehabilitating Cabrillo Village, it is now a self-managed community.

Cabrillo Village

Los Cabos Lane

Ventura, CA 93001

27 Single Family Homes

Completed in 1989

Cabrillo Village Homes (Rehab)

1515 S. Saticoy

Ventura, CA 93004

Cabrillo Village I

1515 S. Saticoy

Ventura, CA 93004

Cabrillo Homes II

Los Cabos Lane

Ventura, CA 93001

Cabrillo Village Homes (Rehab)

86 Multifamily Homes rehabilitated

Completed in 1986

Cabrillo Village I

35 Multifamily Homes

Completed in 1981

Cabrillo Homes II

39 Multifamily Homes

Completed in 1986

In the early ‘60s during the civil rights movement, activist Cesar Chavez led many farm workers in strikes against growers all over Southern California to help improve the farm labor system and to fight against cheap labor and oppression. Farm workers joined in a strike in 1974 against the growers of the Saticoy Lemon Association. In 1975, the association sent eviction notices to 80 farm worker families living in the Cabrillo Village labor camp. The State of California had determined that these labor camp housing units violated health and safety codes. As a result, the lemon association decided not to repair the homes and informed the families that they needed to move out. Rather than losing their homes, residents organized to form the nonprofit Cabrillo Improvement Association (CIA). Resident families refused to obey the eviction notices and instead made the brave choice to fight for justice. As evidence of their determination, when they were threatened with the demolition of their homes, all the adults and children from the labor camp joined hands and created a human chain between the houses and the bulldozer.

On May 5, 1976, community strength triumphed after 80 families each contributed $1,000 to successfully purchase the land on which their homes resided. With the support of other organizations and agencies that learned about their struggle, the labor camp rightfully became the property of the farm workers and their families. The houses were rehabilitated, and several years later, the development expanded through the construction of 74 new units. In 1981, in a decision to expand the CIA, a countywide community development corporation was formed that became Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), which brings the spirit of Cabrillo Village to affordable housing initiatives throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.