Address Poverty & Affordable Housing

Support legislation that would provide a permanent source of funding for development of affordable housing and increase the federal minimum wage.

Sonoma County’s real estate market continues to experience rapidly escalating rents and vacancy rates as low as 1.5%. Rent increases in Sonoma County are some of the highest among metropolitan areas in California as well as communities throughout the Country. A majority of renters earning less than 50% of area median income pay more than half their income for rent, an unsustainable level which puts many at risk of eviction and housing instability. Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a top priority for Sonoma County, as is increasing the availability of federal rental assistance.

Sonoma County is leading the way in creating new housing opportunities for our low income families and vulnerable populations like veterans. The County spearheaded the conversion of a local motel into permanent supportive housing for veterans and other chronically homeless individuals. We invest local funds in the creation of new housing, and are streamlining permitting processes for developments that will add desperately needed housing to our supply.

Local jurisdictions like Sonoma County need the federal government to support these efforts. More capital for housing development and preservation through programs like the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and the National Housing Trust Fund would help local development dollars go farther. Additionally, increased funding for Housing Choice Vouchers would enable the County to serve more of the 7,464 local households currently on our wait list.

The County urges sponsorship or support of legislation that would:

• Provide a permanent source of funding for the development of affordable housing.
• Increase funding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and provide vouchersdedicated to veterans (VASH Vouchers) to the Sonoma County Housing Authority.