City Proclaims Affordable Housing Month, Emphasizes Fairness, Inclusion, and Justice in Housing

Access to safe, stable affordable homes is critical to create strong, thriving, equitable communities. That's why during the month of May, the Santa Rosa City Council and the Santa Rosa Housing Authority are joining with community partners and experts in the field of housing locally and across the nation, in celebrating Affordable Housing Month and recommitting to the City's mission to promote awareness, fairness, inclusion, and justice in housing. Visit the City's Affordable Housing Communities webpage for more information on affordable housing opportunities in Santa Rosa.

WHEREAS, housing is a human right, yet thousands of Santa Rosans struggle to find an affordable home; and

WHEREAS, Santa Rosa must continue to put the need for new affordable housing development, as well as the preservation and rehabilitation of existing affordable homes at the forefront to promote the stability of the community; and

WHEREAS, the City and Housing Authority have taken meaningful actions to meet the need, by providing financing and affordability monitoring for over 6,500 housing units, overseeing a $199 million loan portfolio, and administering more than 2,000 Housing Choice Vouchers; and

WHEREAS, this fiscal year the Housing Authority awarded $3.1 million to develop and rehabilitate 170 affordable housing units; and

WHEREAS, the City and Housing Authority want to highlight the completion of South Park Commons, a 62-unit affordable housing complex located on surplus City property, provided $5.8 million and 30 project-based vouchers to insure the long-term financial sustainability and affordability of the project; and

WHEREAS, the department of Housing and Community Services works with many organizations to provide safe, stable, and affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, Affordable Housing Month is a time to recommit to our mission to promote awareness, fairness, inclusion, and justice in housing.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Rosa City Council proclaims the month of May to be Affordable Housing Month, to call upon our community to support affordable housing solutions and to recognize the efforts of the City and its partners to improve access to affordable housing in Santa Rosa.