The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) is thrilled to announce that our very own Karen Flock, Director of Real Estate Development, has been honored as the 2024 Woman of the Year by Congressman Salud Carbajal. This recognition highlights Karen’s decades-long dedication to affordable housing and her relentless advocacy for the underserved in our community.
Karen’s journey as a housing champion began in the mid-1970s, and her dedication has only deepened over the years. From her early efforts in supporting farmworkers and securing essential housing for them to her pivotal roles in various nonprofits addressing the community’s social needs, Karen has always prioritized the needs of the community. Since joining HACSB in 2016, she has been an invaluable asset, bringing her passion and expertise to every project and initiative she touches.
At HACSB, Karen spearheads the development and acquisition of new housing opportunities across Ventura as the Director of Real Estate Development. One of her department’s standout achievements is securing Ventura County’s largest HOMEKEY grant to acquire and transform the Valentine Rd Apartments into permanently supportive housing (formerly La Quinta Motel). Under her visionary leadership, HACSB has successfully developed Westview I, II, and III, El Portal Apartments, and Willet Ranch. Additionally, Karen played a pivotal role in enhancing Ventura’s Westside through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Community grant, further solidifying her legacy of building a more inclusive community.
Karen’s remarkable achievement was celebrated at the Valentine Road Apartments in Ventura, a supportive housing development on the brink of welcoming its first residents. As Valentine Road embarks on this exciting new chapter, plans are already underway for further rehabilitation in the next stages of the project.
“We could not be prouder of this recognition for Karen. She has been a champion for affordable housing for many decades and we are fortunate that she brings her passion into the work we do here at the housing authority. Being here today, at Valentine Rd, joined by so many of our community partners is a reflection of Karen’s community impact and the Housing Authority’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of our community.’ Said Jeffrey Lambert, CEO of the HACSB.
As we celebrate Karen’s well-deserved recognition, we also celebrate the positive impact she’s made on countless lives. Karen, thank you for being such a passionate leader of our community’s housing initiatives. Here’s to many more years of making dreams of affordable housing a reality!
To learn more about the award, visit: https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1879
To learn more about the HACSB, visit:
About the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura
The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura with more than 1,480 Housing Choice Vouchers and 1097 affordable rental units. The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is to provide and develop quality affordable housing for eligible low-income residents of Ventura County and to establish strong partnerships necessary for HACSB customers to achieve personal goals related to literacy and education; health and wellness; and job training and employment leading to personal growth and economic self-sufficiency.