SONOMA VALLEY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ROADMAP
Protect precariously housed residents
Programs aimed at keeping people at risk of homelessness housed and preventing homelessness
Table of Contents
Pass a permanent just cause eviction protection ordinance in the City of Sonoma
Strategy
Strategy
Strategy
Strategy 1
Pass a permanent just cause eviction protection ordinance in the City of Sonoma
Strategy description
Sonoma County just passed a major tenant protection ordinance that applies throughout the unincorporated areas of our county. Petaluma was the first municipality in the county to pass its own ordinance. These efforts augment the state’s recent landmark legislation called the Tenant Protection Act, codified in Civil Code 1946.2 and 1947.12 (often referred to as AB 1482) which requires just causes for termination for certain tenants.
Just cause protections require landlords to have a legally-valid reason prior to terminating a tenant. For many, this is common sense–rarely do property managers or landlord proceed to eviction without a reason. But Legal Aid’s data shows that over 30% of the evictions in Sonoma County occur for a reason other than the fault of the tenant, including evictions for no reason at all. These “arbitrary” evictions are essentially impossible to overcome in court. The landlord has an absolute right to take housing away from tenants without any cause, unless the state or local government demands otherwise.
Given the costs associated with eviction–costs that have immense impacts on the evicted families, the local communities, and the public fisc–it seems crucial that, at a minimum, landlords must have a reason to remove the tenants. The state’s Tenant Protection Act encourages local jurisdictions to pass ordinances that augment its baseline protections. The City of Sonoma could do so.
Moreover, current ordinances leave large gaps that mean that many, if not most, tenants in Sonoma County still lack meaningful just cause protections. For example, any ordinance exempting single-family homes will fail to reach the majority of tenants in almost every jurisdiction (given the relative dearth of multifamily housing).
Sonoma may be a good jurisdiction to finally pilot a protection ordinance that protects the majority of its tenant residents.
Partners
Legal Aid of Sonoma County
Description
Legal Aid of Sonoma County (LASC) is the County’s largest provider of legal services for low-income residents, especially on housing issues. Legal Aid’s housing team has deep expertise in tenant-landlord law and has been active in amending the local tenant protection ordinances, including at the County level and in Petaluma.
Role
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Why
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City of Sonoma
Role
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Why
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Description
The City of Sonoma will necessarily have to agree, through the Council, to bring pass an Ordinance.
Sonoma County Mobilehome Owners Association
Description
An alliance of mobile home owners in the County that would be critical for organizing.
Role
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Why
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Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League (Sonoma Valley)
Description
Local chapter of a statewide organization that organizes and advocates for mobile home owners.
Role
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Why
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Sonoma Valley Housing Group
Description
Local residents passionate about housing issues.
Role
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Why
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North Bay Organizing Project / Sonoma County Tenants Union
Description
Local organization that mobilizes tenants and has been behind both ordinances that have passed in the County so far.
Role
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Why
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Western Center on Law & Poverty
Description
Statewide nonprofit that advises on laws affecting those in poverty, including lots of experience advising on tenant protections.
Role
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Why
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Public Advocates
Description
Statewide nonprofit that advises on laws affecting those in poverty, including lots of experience advising on tenant protections.
Role
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Why
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Timeline & Sequence
Create coalition around amending Sonoma municipal code to include augmented tenant protections. (1-2 years prior to desired implementation).
Examine template ordinances with coalition members–many exist at this point. What are the coalitions biggest priorities? (1-1.5 years prior to desired implementation)
Request meetings with City officials, asking them to agendize modifications to municipal code. (1-1.5 years prior to desired implementation)
Meet with City Attorney to discuss proposal and offer drafting assistance. (1 year prior to desired implementation)
Raise awareness and mobilize residents to show up for campaign, likely including 3-6 meetings at the City Council during deliberations on the issue. (1 year prior to desired implementation).
Cost estimates and funding sources for pursuing the top strategies
$0 to $15,000 for campaign costs, including coalition meetings and potentially the use of a hired consultant.