COMING SOON

SONOMA VALLEY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ROADMAP

An action plan to address our community’s housing affordability crisis over the next three years, funded by Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund.

The Roadmap advances the 3 P’s of housing

Preserve affordable infill homes

Keep lower-income people in their affordable homes by partnering with philanthropy and other funds to assure that subsidized, below-market-rate homes in Sonoma Valley stay that way.

Produce affordable infill homes

Build new homes that embody the principles of the Sonoma Valley Housing Declaration: affordable, for people who live or work in the Valley, within already developed areas, to create diverse, safe, complete neighborhoods.

Protect precariously housed residents

Keep people housed and prevent homelessness by helping lower-income renters with housing services, cash assistance, and legal help.

and…

  • Focuses on homes for local workers and residents with limited means, excluding homeless services.

  • Builds on local governments’ Housing Elements and Homes for a Sustainable Sonoma Valley.

  • Funded by Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, and based on in-depth research and interviews.

PREVIEW OF
STRATEGIES

STRATEGY 1
Create A Sonoma Valley Community Development Corporation


STRATEGY 2
Keep Renters Housed

  • Strategy 2a: Educate tenants and landlords

  • Strategy 2b: More and better housing services

  • Strategy 2c: Better just-cause eviction protections

STRATEGY 3
Assure Affordability Commitments Are Kept

  • Strategy 3a: Adopt a strong rental registry

  • Strategy 3b: Ensure that people living in income-restricted homes are those who need them

STRATEGY 4
Preserve Existing Affordable Housing

  • Strategy 4a: Buy out expiring unit

  • Strategy 4b: Long-term rental preservation program (naturally occurring)

  • Strategy 4c: Preserve mobile home parks

STRATEGY 5
Improve Zoning & Land Use Rules

  • Strategy 5a: Different land use rules to incentivize new affordable infill housing

  • Strategy 5b: Address local zoning policies that constrain development

  • Strategy 5c: Create the framework to sell ADUs and condo-ize parcels

  • Strategy 5d: Allow diverse types of housing construction

  • Strategy 5e: Parking reform (County)

  • Strategy 5 f: Reduce number of short-term rentals and incentivize renting to locals (County)

STRATEGY 6
Public or Nonprofit Ownership of Land

  • Strategy 6a: Establish a land bank entity

  • Strategy 6b: Use community land trusts to reduce cost to residents

STRATEGY 7
Workforce Housing

  • Strategy 7a: Improve Downpayment Programs for Lower-Income Homebuyers

  • Strategy 7b: Building a path to homeownership for middle-income families


STRATEGY 8
Build Local Funding Streams to House Our Community

IMPLEMENTATION OUTLOOK

  • Each strategy and substrategy will identify the organizations best suited to lead, and a cost estimate.

  • Cross-strategy efficiencies (e.g., shared data platforms) enhance cost-effectiveness.

NEXT STEPS

  • The Roadmap presentations

    • Public launch (English/Live Stream): Tuesday, October 21, Hanna Center Auditorium. REGISTER.

    • The Future Collective: Tuesday, October 14. RSVP.

    • En español: viernes, 14 de noviembre, La Luz Center. RSVP.

    • Request a presentation.

  • Launch key organizational infrastructure (e.g., Sonoma Valley community development entity)

  • Begin phased strategy rollouts aligned with available funding

  • Coordinate with local governments, nonprofits, and funders

  • Track impact and adapt via regular progress evaluations