City Celebrates Opening of First Homeless Navigation Center, Thrive Grove

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., May 7, 2025- The City of Thousand Oaks, in collaboration with the County of Ventura, Hope the Mission, Many Mansions, and DignityMoves, held a ceremonial ribbon cutting for Thrive Grove, the City’s first navigation center, located at 1205 Lawrence Drive, a city-owned property. 

Thrive Grove will serve as a critical access point and gateway to assist up to thirty individuals experiencing homelessness, with the capacity to add twenty units in the future, for a total of fifty. The onsite support and services will help individuals transition to a more permanent housing environment. Services administered at Thrive Grove include meals, case management, laundry and restroom facilities, computer stations, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and workforce training.   

"The opening of Thrive Grove represents a crucial step forard in our commitment to addressing homelessness in our community. This isn't just about providing a bed for the night; it's about offering a vital pathway for our most vulnerable residents to stabilize their lives," said Mayor David Newman. “By providing a safe and supportive environment and essential services, we empower individuals to address their challenges, rebuild their lives, and ultimately find a stable and permanent place to call home. This project is an investment in human dignity and the well-being of our entire city." 

The County of Ventura is an essential partner with the City to ensure that the residents of Thrive Grove will have direct access and connections to critical services based on individual need. The County is also a cost-sharing partner in the construction and operation of the facility. The State of California Interagency Council on Homelessness awarded the City $5.8 million in competitive grant funding for the construction and operation of the facility.  

This competitive grant program assists local jurisdictions in ensuring the wellness and safety of people experiencing homelessness in encampments by providing services. It supports addressing their immediate physical and mental wellness, resulting in meaningful paths to safe and stable housing.  

IKEA of Thousand Oaks donated all the furniture and bedding for the units, office spaces, common areas, and meal prep spaces. Volunteers participated in the finishing touches on the facility by assembling furniture and setting up the units in anticipation of the first residents, who will arrive in the coming weeks.  

On Saturday May 10th, the community is invited to tour the facility from 10 am to 4 pm. The open house is open to everyone and will give an inside look into the operations and facility. To donate, get involved, or learn more about how to support Thrive Grove, visit thrivegrove.org.  

ABOUT HOPE THE MISSION: Since 2009, Hope the Mission has aimed to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions and empowering individuals to rebuild their lives and thrive. They are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the largest homeless service provider in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Since their inception, they have provided over 70,000 nights of shelter for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness across 15 facilities. Hope the Mission will serve Thrive Grove in managing its day-to-day operations. For more information, visitwww.hopethemission.org.

ABOUT MANY MANSIONS:Many Mansions is committed to addressing Southern California’s homelessness crisis. Serving over 2,000 people in 900 units, the organization is a leading provider of quality, affordable rental housing and the largest provider of Permanent Supportive Housing in Ventura County. Many Mansions envisions a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone has access to affordable housing and the support needed to thrive. Many Mansions will serve Thrive Grove as its ground leaseholder, ensuring the site is developed and operated in accordance with City agreements. For more information, visitwww.manymansions.org. 

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ABOUT DIGNITYMOVES:DignityMoves is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to end unsheltered homelessness in communities by building interim supportive housing as a rapid, cost-effective, and scalable solution and connect people with medical and mental healthcare, case managers, job assistance, and many other services. DignityMoves served the Thrive Grove in site design and development efforts. For more information, visitwww.dignitymoves.org. 

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