Community Action and BikeVentura Join Forces for the Homeless & Near Homeless

(Oxnard, Ca) Those who are homeless and dependent on bicycles for commuting to work, school, or to receive essential services will soon have some additional resources to keep their bike on the road.

Beginning Tuesday, November 6, BikeVentura staff will be on site at Community Action (621 Richmond Ave.) with tools and expertise to help people fix their bikes or better outfit them to carry their belongings. Every Tuesday from Noon until 4:00 p.m. community members can access these low or no-cost services and learn skills that promote independence.

Some have the skill and resources to keep their bikes in good operation. Most do not. Community Action and BikeVentura will work together to remedy this situation.

“We are so excited about this bike repair program,”  said Dr. Cynder Sinclair, executive director of Community Action. “It will help our neighbors, who depend on a bike for transportation,  keep their bike in good operating condition and increase their self-sufficiency.

Using the shop will be low cost ($5 an hour) but clients will have the option to volunteer and earn store credit.  This work/trade program has been extremely successful at BikeVentura HUB, where customers often earn enough credit to buy a complete bicycle.

Community members can support this Oxnard Bike HUB, located at Community Action, by donating  bikes or bike parts to the program anytime during the open hours of Community Action (M-F 8-5). Bike staff will either fix it up with the help of volunteers or use the parts to keep repair costs low. Bicycles built from donated parts will be sold to generate revenue to fund this program. The organization has also welcomed those interested in volunteering to show up during open hours.

The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce will perform a ribbon cutting ceremony at Community Action of Ventura County (621 Richmond Ave., Oxnard) on November 28.

Bike HUB is a nonprofit community bike shop and second-hand bike store where all levels of bicyclists can work on their bike with the assistance of master mechanics and trained volunteers. Bike HUB locations include Ventura and Fillmore, with the new location in Oxnard.

Community Action of Ventura County operates homelessness prevention programs and a day center to meet the essential needs of local homeless individuals. Services include showers, laundry, mail delivery, storage, computer use, and life skills workshops.

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