Transportation Funding Partnership Offers Rides At No Charge.
Camarillo, California – The Camarillo City Council demonstrated the City’s commitment to supporting seniors in the community by financially supporting the Camarillo Health Care District’s Care-A-Van Transportation Services, from March 2020 to July 2021.
On February 24, 2021, the City Council approved a mid-year budget adjustment to provide $57,000 of general CARES Act funding to the Camarillo Health Care District. Camarillo City Manager Greg Ramirez explained, “This is not an ongoing structural expense; rather, it is a one-time budget adjustment to support a vital need in our community right now.”
“This is an essential partnership at exactly the right time and provides much-needed relief,” shared Kara Ralston, Camarillo Health Care District’s CEO. “We appreciate the Council’s vision during this pandemic and their commitment to serving every sector of the community. Due to COVID, there has been little opportunity to receive revenue, but the services need to continue,” Ralston explained.
The City’s contribution to the District will help fund the Care-A-Van program, which provides door-through-door transportation to District residents for non-emergency medical appointments, activities of daily living, preventive health and other health maintenance appointments, including to and from District programs, throughout Ventura County.
“We’re very honored to be part of the City’s plan in meeting the needs of the community, and we look forward to helping people get to the health services they need, “ stated Christopher Loh, MD, Board President of the Camarillo Health Care District.
Special districts, like Camarillo Health Care District, were not included in the first round of CARES Act funding, and there is no current timeline on eligibility for any future rounds of CARES Act funding. “As a service agency, where service is the sole focus, almost the entire cost is salary, administration and fleet, which makes it difficult to qualify for CDBG funding,” explained Ralston.
In total, the City received $5.1 million in CARES Act funding for the Fiscal Year 2020/21. Given that the City has received CARES Act funding, and that the City’s Mid-Year Budget Report of February 10, 2021, reflects a budget surplus at the end of the current fiscal year, the City is using $57,000 of its appropriated general CARES Act funding to cover the projected lost revenue for the Camarillo Health Care District’s Care-A-Van program, from March 2020 to July 2021.
Camarillo City Manager Greg Ramirez stated,” The City Council wants money to go to the greatest need in the community, and this is one service that can have a great impact directly to Camarillo residents in need.”
For more information about this service, please contact the Camarillo Health Care District at (805) 388-1952or visit www.camhealth.com.