House Farm Workers! welcomes new Executive Director Gabrielle Vignone

After an extensive search, the House Farm Workers! Board of Directors is pleased to
announce that Gabrielle Vignone has accepted the position of Executive Director at the nonprofit and
began her new position on October 1, 2021.

Gabrielle Vignone joins the organization with over 13 years of comprehensive experience in the housing
industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English as well as an Associates Degree in Legal Studies. Vignone
is certified in Fair Housing by the Housing Rights Center, has a Housing Credit Certified Professional
designation from NAHB, and a USDA Housing certification. Vignone previously worked with The Towbes
Group where she was both the Affordable Senior Community Manager and the Market Rate Community
Manager. In these roles, she worked closely with the Ventura Housing Authority, built a strong
command of regulations related to fair housing, local building codes, and OSHA. Additionally, Vignone
worked at Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), where she interacted directly with
farmworker families by supporting their housing needs, and created a resident run Food Share program
that is still flourishing.

“Gabrielle is a talented and driven individual, who is truly enthusiastic about the work that we do here,
stated Leslie Leavens, Chair of the House Farm Workers! Board. “We expect her experience and passion
for increasing farmworker housing in Ventura County will lead to great things for our farmworker
population. We are beyond excited to welcome her to House Farm Workers!”

Vignone is actively leading the nonprofit in its longstanding advocacy for safe, decent, and affordable
housing for Ventura County farmworkers. An important aspect of her role, working alongside House
Farm Workers! consultant Jennifer Coile, is to ensure the housing needs of farmworkers and their
families are addressed in the Housing Element Programs currently being updated by all Ventura County
cities and the County. Specifically, Vignone and Coile are coordinating advocacy for a Farmworker
Housing Study to assess the size and makeup of Ventura County’s farmworker population, their housing
needs, and barriers to the construction of farmworker housing. Another key role is to support Housing
Trust Fund Ventura County with the creation of a countywide dedicated source of funding for affordable
housing.