East Ventura News

To earn a living wage on California's Central Coast, an individual with two children needs to make $60 or more per hour. Most jobs in Ventura, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, and Monterey counties do not offer such wages. This issue will be addressed at the upcoming conference titled "Affording a Dignified Life on The Central Coast of California," scheduled for February 28. Hosted by California Lutheran University's School of Management’s Center for Economics of Social Issues (CESI), the event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lundring Events Center on the Cal Lutheran campus.

The conference is based on findings from the 2025 study "Affording a Dignified Life on the California Central Coast" by Jamshid Damooei, Ph.D., who will release his report during the event. Damooei poses a critical question: “Is California a land of opportunity for many of its people or a mirage of a better life that does not materialize for the majority?” He emphasizes that poverty is avoidable and advocates for universal access to affordable housing, food, and early childhood education.

The primary goal of the conference is to shed light on affordability issues and discuss policy implications across various sectors including government, foundations, nonprofits, and businesses.

Presentations include "Addressing Housing Insecurity Among Migrant and Vulnerable Populations in Ventura County" by Sabith Khan, Ph.D., director of Cal Lutheran's Master of Public Policy and Administration program, and Kirk Lesh, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics at Cal Lutheran. Khan will also moderate a keynote panel discussing affordability challenges on the Central Coast and potential solutions. Panelists include Vanessa Bechtel from Ventura County Community Foundation; Bruce Stenslie from Economic Development Collaborative; Cesar Morales from Ventura County Superintendent of Schools; and Sean Veal from City National Bank.

Damooei highlights that economic challenges are real and significantly impact thousands in these counties: “It’s crucial to recognize that our economic challenges aren’t theoretical — they are real and critically impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals in our counties and the region.”

Key findings discussed at the conference reveal that childcare costs consume 95% of income for families at poverty level with one parent working full-time with two children. A significant portion (49%-74%) qualify for financial support but may not receive it. Additionally, over $4 billion could have been allocated to this region for preschool education, housing vouchers, and food assistance programs like SNAP.

Gerhard Apfelthaler, Ph.D., dean of Cal Lutheran's School of Management states: “We know that the way to empower communities begins with progress toward a just socio-economic environment... We need to get to the point where people of all backgrounds can meet their essential needs without spending their entire paycheck or slipping into debt.”

California Lutheran University offers free attendance for its faculty, staff, and students while community members can register for $50 via https://bit.ly/CESI25.