Thousand Oaks has opened its first permanent homeless shelter, the Thrive Grove Navigation Center, on May 7. The center provides 30 units of temporary housing and on-site support services. Mayor David Newman emphasized the shelter’s role in addressing homelessness, saying, “Thrive Grove represents our commitment to compassion, to dignity, to the belief that everyone deserves a path forward.”
Located at 1205 Lawrence Drive, the project was approved by the City Council in October 2023, with construction starting in June last year. The shelter, designed by Dignity Moves, features modular, prefabricated tiny homes with communal facilities such as kitchenettes, dining areas, and computer stations. Residents are expected to stay for three to six months while receiving customized services, including mental health resources and job skills training.
The project faced delays due to land conditions and permitting processes, but it was completed with $8 million in construction costs, supported by state and county funding. Future plans include adding 20 more units once additional funding is secured.
Ken Craft, CEO of Hope the Mission, which manages the shelter, highlighted the importance of providing help to those in need, saying, “There’s usually a degree of brokenness and trauma and saying, ‘I can’t do it on my own, I need help.’ And that’s where we step in.”
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