Mesa Farm
Genuine Sheds is founded on the principles of creating spaces for individuals and families to expand and grow. We are committed to crafting quality studios and sheds, and this has led us to meeting extraordinary people! We work with people who are utilizing the space as a music or art studio, writing corner, launching their business etc, we are always amazed at all that then gets done in the cozy spaces we build together. We are pleased to bring some of these small businesses and creators to light!
What is Mesa Farm?
Mesa is a Ventura County-based nonprofit that provides transitional housing and trauma-informed programs for young adults, ages 18–24, who are facing homelessness. Mesa addresses the root causes of housing instability through a whole-person approach that includes wellness, education, vocational support, and relationship-building. By offering more than just a roof, Mesa offers a real opportunity for young adults to heal, grow, and create a sustainable path forward. With 10 single occupancy tiny-homes and two rooms in a main house, Mesa can house up to 13 young adults. It is located on a 10-acre property on the East End of the Ojai Valley.
How did the Mesa story begin?
Mesa was born out of a desire to move upstream from the symptoms of homelessness. Co-founders Dan Parziale and Kyle Thompson met in early 2020 with a shared vision: to create a holistic, community-rooted solution that focused on young adults before homelessness became chronic. At the time, Dan was commuting from Ojai to Los Angeles, where he served as Senior Director of Housing Navigation at LA Family Housing. Kyle was hoping to give back to his community. Dan shared the idea for a program that would integrate housing, health, and personal development—Kyle immediately saw the potential.
Over the next six months, they immersed themselves in the data, particularly around the poor outcomes for foster youth aging out of the system. The statistics were staggering, but the path forward was clear: build something that centers youth, offers them agency, and surrounds them with real support. They got to work immediately—forming a nonprofit, applying for grants, and forging strategic partnerships in Ventura County.
With support from the Ventura County Executive Office, Supervisor Matt LaVere, Assemblymember Steve Bennett, and in partnership with People’s Self Help Housing, Mesa secured over $6 million in state funding through the Homekey program. They’ve since raised additional private and grant funds to bring their vision to life on a 10-acre farm in the Ojai Valley—a place where young adults can rebuild and reimagine their futures.
When was the first calling to create something like Mesa?
The first true calling came from years of working in the field and a deep frustration with bandaid solutions. Dan had seen firsthand how often foster youth exited care with little support and quickly fell into cycles of homelessness. He knew housing alone wasn’t enough—what was needed was a deeply relational, long-term approach. Mesa was born from the belief that we could do better: that a safe home, coupled with whole-person care, could stop the cycle before it starts.
What does a day at Mesa look like?
Every day is different, and will be different for each unique individual living here, but all are designed to help residents feel empowered, seen, and in control of their path forward. Participants meet with our case manager on a weekly basis, and they may also participate in workshops or our weekly house meetings. They may be going to work or school. We have staff onsite at all times, this includes our administrative staff that works out of the offices on one-side of the main house, as well as house managers who are part of developing the structure and culture of Mesa community. Right now there are a number of exciting projects happening that Mesa participants may choose to engage in–building a cob pizza oven with a local natural builder, learning about movie making and making a short film, contributing to the native pollinator garden, adding pieces to a new sculpture donated to the property, picking pixie tangerines for Farmcart, a local company that delivers produce to schools, a weekly empowerment workshop, etc etc.
What is the shed used for and what impact will it have on all that call Mesa home?
The new shed is for bikes! Bikes are an important form of transportation for our participants, and having a location to store and easily access them is hugely impactful for us. We recently began transforming our garage into a wellness space, and so bikes have been on the back patio exposed to the elements. It’s another building block in creating a home that’s functional and meets participant needs.
How can the community get involved and support all that Mesa does?
Mesa thrives because of community. People can support our mission by donating funds or essential goods, or volunteering their time and skills. Businesses can sponsor our upcoming Golf Tournament or Annual Event in the fall, or offer internships and job opportunities. Every act of care—from fixing a bike to showing up for a celebration—matters. Mesa is built on the belief that homelessness is not just a policy issue, it’s a community responsibility. We invite anyone who believes in this to join us.
What is the dream for Mesa as it grows and expands?
The dream is to grow in depth, not just scale. We envision additional Mesa homes across Ventura County—each rooted in the same values of dignity, empowerment, and holistic support. We want to deepen our wellness offerings, create more opportunities for residents to lead, and build a network of alumni who return as mentors, advocates, and changemakers. In the long run, Mesa aims to be both a model and a movement: showing that young adult homelessness is solvable when we invest early, listen deeply, and lead with care.
Final Thoughts
At Mesa, we don’t just house people—we believe in them. Every young person who walks through our doors carries a story of strength and survival. Our job is to offer them a place to rest, reset, and rise. With the support of our community, we’re not just focused on ending youth homelessness—we’re cultivating possibility.