Community Conscience is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that owns and operates the Human Services Center serving
Ventura County in Southern California.
We offer rent-free space to non-profit social service organizations in our 22,000 square-foot building. This results in about $300,000 in savings each year, which the non-profits are now able to use to deliver services to their clients. In 2020, over 79,000 people received help from these organizations. Community Conscience also provides a telephone referral service that helps individuals locate needed services.
The mission of Community Conscience is to provide a single location where human service programs are available and accessible at no cost to recipients and to maximize coordination among agencies.
We achieve this by:
- Maintaining a permanent social service facility in Thousand Oaks accessible by public transit
- Providing information to individuals pursuing such assistance
- Promoting maximum coordination among agencies providing assistance services
- Raising awareness of the need for assistance services not presently being provided
- Fostering our values of courtesy, respect and human dignity in services provided through Community Conscience and its partner agencies
Our Team
Staff
Robin Britt
Executive Director
Marlene MacAulay
Administrative Assistant
City of Thousand Oaks Liaison:
Sarah Mailes
Executive Committee
Woodrow Brokenburr
President
Larry Marquart
1st Vice President
Mike Cox
Treasurer
Diane Milavetz
Assistant Treasurer
Fran Brough
Secretary
Dee Crawford
Past President
Board of Trustees
Susan Ahan
Barbara Ashcraft
Laura Conway
Dave Crawford
Dave Freeman
Pat Grant
Stephen Hagey
Sherrill Hyink
Aaron Kitzman
Cheryl Klepper
Mina Layba
Lauren Lerch
Tim McDougall
Gabrielle Pittle
Jacquelyn Turner
Advisory Council
Leonard Alexander
Frank Bellinghiere
Danielle Borja
Grant Brimhall
Chuck Cohen
Frank Dawson, M.D.
June Glasmeier
Susan Holt
George Hutchison
Ricki Mikkelsen
Peter Mogg
Don Phillipson
Maria Prescott
Phyllis Rickert
Hugo Roche
Ed Sahakian
Tex Ward
Joan Young
Frequently Asked Questions
How are tenants selected?
Tenants are selected based on their ability to meet needs in our community which supplement, rather than duplicate, the services of other agencies in the building.
How are you able to provide free rent?
The cost of operating the building is met through fund raising activities and co-operative fair market lease agreements with federal, state, and local government agencies such as the County of Ventura – Human Services Agency.
None of this is possible without your charitable donations and dedication to the underserved in the Conejo Valley.
Why is it so important to be "under one roof"?
Bringing government and non-profit social service groups together prevents duplication of programs and helps fill any gaps in their services. This allows for cross referrals among agencies and the formation of partnerships among tenants. A building such as ours means a great deal to the efficiencies of its tenants.
People who are low income, homeless, disabled, abused or mentally ill often do not have transportation. They are in need of food, clothing, shelter, medical attention, counseling and programs designed to help them transform their lives. This means traveling all over a city or even multiple cities to receive all these services. This proves very difficult or even impossible for most.
There is a city bus stop directly in front of the Human Services Center. With one trip, all services can be utilized. Currently the programs provided by the agencies include helping parents and babies, youth, seniors, low income and homeless, mentally and physically disabled, end of life care, adoption, medical attention, food, shelter, clothing, employment, counseling for grief and victims of abuse, legal assistance and tutoring programs.
The organizations each have different programs and they work as allies referring clients to each other so all their needs can be met. They empower each other by sharing resources and information. An atmosphere of courtesy, human dignity, understanding and respect is carried throughout by all who work and volunteer here.
Our History
In every community, and the Conejo Valley is no exception, there are people who need help. Frustrated in the early 1980’s by reduced funding for community-based social service agencies a group of concerned citizens hit on an idea to help keep these small organizations afloat. As with any business, social service agencies could substantially reduce their expenses by eliminating rent payments.
In 1988, after years of planning and fund raising their vision for a one-stop social services shop, located under one roof, was realized and the Human Services Center opened at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive owned and operated by Community Conscience, a non-profit organization. Currently, there are thirteen non-profit social service organizations that are provided rent-free offices at the 22,000 square-foot Hillcrest building. They include groups such as the Conejo Free Clinic, Hospice of the Conejo and Lutheran Social Services of Southern California.
Over the years, social service organizations may alter their missions and practices, but they remain committed to the residents of the Conejo Valley. Community Conscience will be there to help ensure they are able to do their job by supporting human services under one roof.