Sonoma Valley has thousands of acres of wine grapes, the care and harvesting of which requires thousands of farmworkers. Farmworkers are among the most vulnerable populations in the housing crisis. Farmworkers often live in overcrowded or substandard housing, and/or are forced to live far from their jobs to afford rent. (In fact, one census tract in the Springs has the highest over-crowding in all of Sonoma County.) This creates compounded problems for farmworkers and the community at large: increased traffic and greenhouse gas emissions, a less stable and healthy labor force, and a system that allows bad actors to exploit immigrant labor. Though Sonoma County has recently created some housing targeted for farmworkers, it lacks any systematic plan to help house farmworkers.

There are two times of year that consistently create housing crises among farmworkers, leading to temporary homelessness. Sonoma Valley urgently needs a structured, long-term strategy to provide both seasonal and permanent housing tailored to the needs of different segments of the farmworker population, including single men, families, and those in employer-provided housing.

  1. During harvest season between August and October, the crisis deepens. Farmworkers often experience homelessness and sleep in their cars due to the lack of temporary and affordable housing. The lack of accessible housing help exacerbates these challenges. 

  2. After harvest, during the winter and early spring months, another housing crisis emerges—this time marked by instability rather than acute overcrowding. Many seasonal farmworkers lose their jobs and income

In the absence of Sonoma County data or leadership on farmworker housing needs, Napa County offers the best model. For over 20 years, Napa County has had an assessment on each parcel containing one acre or more of vineyards. In 2024, the annual parcel assessment was $14. That assessment funds three farmworker housing centers (in Napa, St. Helena, and Calistoga) with 180 beds, and additional units in other complexes throughout the county. A video produced by the Napa Housing Authority shows that each center is physically attractive and well-placed in the vineyard landscape. The assessment also funds other projects to improve farmworkers’ lives, such as literacy programs and child healthcare. The assessment has been a political success, with over 86% approval from vineyard owners during the last re-authorization of the measure. A coalition of groups and agencies has coalesced around farmworker issues in Napa County to collect data and work on comprehensive solutions.

Data from the 2024 Napa County Farmworker Housing Needs & Impact Assessment demonstrates the benefits of farmworker-specific housing solutions. Farmworkers living in dedicated centers reported significantly lower financial stress compared to those renting in the private market. While 41% of year-round farmworkers and 48% of seasonal workers renting on the private market described paying rent as “very difficult,” those figures dropped to 16% and 30%, respectively, for those living in farmworker centers. Additionally, 46% of year-round farmworkers in dedicated housing reported that paying rent was “not difficult”, compared to only 12% of those renting in the private market. These statistics demonstrate that affordable, dedicated farmworker housing reduces financial hardship and prevents housing instability. These are outcomes that should be replicated in Sonoma County.

Napa County’s Farmworker Housing Needs Assessment (FHNA) revealed that in addition to seasonal housing for single workers, there is a pressing need for affordable family housing, particularly single-family homes and multi-bedroom units. A Sonoma County FHNOA would provide crucial data on farmworker housing needs, helping planners, developers, and policymakers determine the best housing models to pursue in the region. 


This strategy proposes a series of  action items :

  1. FHNA - what do farmworkers need?

  2. Series: Is a vineyard assessment feasible?

  3. Vineyard assessment campaign

  4. Plan, fund, build farmworker emergency housing & resource center(s)

  5. Partner with CDC to Pursue Joe Serna and other funding to build distributed (non-center) farmworker housing and other resources facilities

  • Estimated cost: $50,000–$70,000

    The Sonoma Valley Farmworker Housing Needs and Opportunity assessment will utilize quantitative and qualitative research methods to better understand who our agricultural workforces are in the valley, gather data on farmworker housing needs by understanding their current housing situations and identify opportunity zones both for development of housing and specific housing resource needs to inform strategic planning and funding opportunities.

    Quantify the number and types of farmworkers (seasonal, migrant, permanent)

    • Gather data on income, family status, current housing, commute, overcrowding, and housing preferences, resource accessibility, land access, 

    • Identify support service needs like housing navigation, tenant education, and Indigenous language access

    • Map and evaluate potential parcels for housing using zoning and infrastructure analysis

    • Guide program and policy recommendations and unlock state and federal funding opportunities for different housing related needs.

  • Estimated cost: $10,000–$15,000

    Host a public-facing campaign centered around a series of in-depth conversations with vineyard owners, agricultural leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders. This campaign explores the concept of a vineyard-based assessment to support farmworker housing.

    • Facilitate structured, respectful dialogues across agricultural sector

    • Engage vineyard owners, the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, and the Farm Bureau

    • Develop messaging and community engagement strategies

    • Host listening sessions and policy roundtables

    • Build alignment with elected officials, public agencies, and community stakeholders

  • Estimated cost: $20,000–$50,000

     Based on the outcomes of the series, design and implement a strategic campaign to build support for a local vineyard assessment.

    • Analyze legal frameworks, governance, and land use implications 

    • Explore models from other jurisdictions (e.g., Napa,Salinas, Pajaro Valley)

    • Assess political appetite and risks at city and county levels

    • Identify implementation scenarios and funding potential

  • Cost and location to be determined by FHNOA findings and parcel feasibility analysis

     Using Napa’s model as a starting point, develop a culturally responsive center to meet urgent housing and service needs.

    • Provide emergency and seasonal shelter

    • Include amenities such as showers, kitchens, laundry, lockers, and rest areas

    • Co-locate services such as housing navigation, tenant rights education, case management, and Indigenous language support

    • Determine site(s), permitting requirements, development partners, and capital funding needs based on study results

  • The new mission-driven entity can take on farmworker housing as one of several project types or business models within its broader scope and the costs associated with this line of work would vary on project. These projects are uniquely positioned due to the agricultural sector’s access to land, ongoing shifts in the wine industry, and the emerging possibility of transitioning vineyard acreage to more food-based cultivation. The strategy centers on partnering with the CDC to bring these housing efforts to life—requiring proactive parcel identification, tailored planning, and access to funding sources specifically suited to the realities of farmworker housing. To succeed, the CDC must embrace creative, unconventional approaches that make farmworker housing easier to finance and build, leveraging its role as a convener and catalyst for innovation across public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Some examples include:

    • Developing ADUs, THOWs, and modular homes on farms and scattered parcels

    • Collaborate with CDC and other CBOs to identify eligible landowners and employers

    • Pair Joe Serna, CalHome, USDA, and CRA-aligned bank funds

    • Address zoning and infrastructure challenges through partnerships with Permit Sonoma and housing advocates

    • Work with local designers/architects interested in creating units that align with the spirit and essence of the Sonoma Valley.

    • Sonoma Valley Community Development Corporation: The new mission driven entity can take on farmworker housing as one of the project types/business models within their scope. These projects will be unique given the larger access to land agricultural employers have, the changes in the wine industry and possibly the transition from vineyard grapes to other forms of food based cultivation. 

    • Sonoma County Community Development Commission – In Napa, farmworker housing is managed by the Napa County Housing Authority. The Sonoma County equivalent is the Sonoma County Community Development Commission. Government or nonprofit management is preferable to the situation at the farmworker housing project Ortiz Plaza, which is managed by a private, for-profit entity. Even if management is outsourced, the CDC will be involved to secure funding and coordinate the needed coalition.

    • Sonoma County Farm Bureau and/or Sonoma County Winegrowers – Napa’s assessment was approved by vineyard owners who, over 20 years ago, realized the need to create farmworker housing. Peter Rumble, formerly of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, now runs the Napa County Farm Bureau and may be able to share the benefits with the Sonoma County Farm Bureau of voluntarily taxing its members in order to stabilize and retain its labor force.

    Private Land Owners/Employers: As-yet-unidentified agricultural landowner(s) - Typically farmworker housing is built on agricultural land, though that is not the only possible configuration.

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