The Ventura County Commission on Human Concerns (CHC), the county’s action agency, is seeking both a low-income sector board member and an alternate board member to represent the low-income population in the fourth supervisory district.

The commission assists low-income, disadvantaged and at-risk families and individuals, including seniors and youth, to become selfsufficient and responsible for themselves and their families.

The organization offers counseling and outreach services that promote self-sufficiency and dignity for the individual. CHC strives to reduce poverty and homelessness, and advocate positive social change for its clients through legislation.

Board members, employees and volunteers are involved in providing housing, utility assistance, food, employment, family, legal and youth services. They participate in meetings, conferences and other public forums, and are active in planning, program and policy development, fundraising, training and public relations. The CHC offers a safety net of basic services throughout Ventura County.

Begun by volunteers in 1965, the commission grew out of the Johnson Administration’s “War on Poverty.” Today, the commission collaborates with other organizations and the religious community and seeks to include greater community participation in solving issues of poverty and barriers to selfsufficiency by soliciting donors, foundations, and public and private funding sources.

Any resident of the district 18 years or older may apply. The fourth district representative represents Simi Valley, Moorpark, Somis, Las Posas Valley, Santa Susana Knolls, Box Canyon, Chatsworth Peak, Home Acres, Sinaloa Lake and Tierra Rejada.

Applicants need not be low-income themselves, although preference will be given to applicants who are low-income or homeless.

Interviews will be conducted at the commission’s Jan. 9 board meeting at the CHC main office at 621 Richmond Ave. in Oxnard. One board member and one alternate board member will be selected to serve from Feb. 13 through January 2009.

The board meets on the second Monday of each month.     Applications for the term are due by close of business on Dec. 23. In Moorpark, applications may be picked up at and returned completed to the Catholic Charities/Moorpark Community Service Center and the Moorpark Active Adult Center.

To request an application package, call the CHC office at (805) 436-4000. For questions or help in understanding or completing the application, call the office of Dr. Roseann Mikos in Moorpark at (805) 529-4828.

Mikos is the board vice chair and Supervisor Judy Mikels’ appointed public member to the board for the fourth district.

The current low-income sector representative for the district is Ernesto Villanueva, a Simi Valley resident. He is a consultant in investment and real estate financing, a father and a longtime advocate for the low-income and Hispanic communities.