¿Quiere leer este boletín en español? ¡Haga clic aquí para leer la versión en español.

April Newsletter: Springing Into Action!

"Now here we are at this moment where capital is really expensive and the need for housing is not going away and it is incumbent upon us to put our budget where are values are."

– Council Member, Victoria Fleming

We witnessed a significant step forward in affordable housing advocacy at the April 9 Santa Rosa City Council meeting, thanks to the bold leadership of our Santa Rosa elected officials. The Council's took a monumental first step toward implementing Generation Housing's Right Size Impact Fee policy. This action directly addresses our urgent need for more affordable housing and paves the way for vibrant communities where everyone can contribute to an equitable, healthy, and resilient North Bay.

We are also extremely grateful to the 35 community members who showed up and made their voices heard through public comment, and to everyone who contributed through emails, petitions, coalition letters, or in person. Your active participation made a powerful difference and demonstrated our community's commitment to more, more affordable, and more diverse housing options.

Let's keep the momentum going! Sign our petition to support our ongoing efforts for affordable, diverse, and sustainable housing. Your voice matters. Together, we can shape a brighter future for the North Bay!

Are you passionate about affordable housing in Sonoma County?

Generation Housing is seeking passionate and motivated individuals residing in Sonoma County to join our Outreach Advocate for Affordable Housing team. This role is integral to our grassroots campaign aimed at engaging the community to support policies for more affordable housing. As an Outreach Advocate, you will actively participate in efforts to gather support for reducing impact fees and advocating for multifamily affordable housing initiatives.

This is a stipended opportunity, if you are interested, please contact Sonia, our Civic Engagement Manager at sonia@generationhousing.org.

**Get up to $100,000 of Down Payment Assistance!**

Our partners at Burbank Housing can help make your dream of homeownership a reality!

Since 1980, Burbank Housing has been a local nonprofit leader dedicated to creating affordable housing opportunities in the North Bay. As part of its mission, Burbank administers affordable down payment assistance programs and in 2022 was awarded over $14,000,000 by the California Department of Housing and Community Development to further expand homeownership opportunities in Sonoma County. Up to $100K for down payment assistance for eligible buyers. This Program is designed for first-time homebuyers. Income limits apply and are based on household size*. Interested buyers must be pre-qualified for a loan before applying for assistance and should sign up below to receive an application link.

Join us and be part of advancing strategic, collaborative solutions for more, more affordable, and more diverse housing in Sonoma County.

As a Gen H member, you are part of the solution! Members help amplify the voices of those impacted by our local housing shortage and affordability challenges, and help grow our power to make meaningful progress in making sure that people in Sonoma County have housing that meets their needs. 

What to expect from Sonoma County’s budget workshops| The Press Democrat

The county is looking at a roughly $2.4 billion budget, representing a 3% increase over the $2.27 billion budget passed last June.

Court ruling on development fees applauded by North Bay advocates pushing for local fee reform | The Press Democrat

The court said fees could be considered an unconstitutional taking if builders are required to pay more than their fair share of the cost of public works, opening the door for challenges.

Charted: What people are sacrificing to afford housing | AXIOS

California’s largest ‘builder’s remedy’ housing project could be coming to Wine Country | San Francisco Chronicle

California is building fewer homes. The state could get even more expensive | The Press Democrat

California’s largest ‘builder’s remedy’ housing project could be coming to Wine Country | SF Chronicle

$10B+ housing bond nears ballot |San Mateo Daily Journal

San Mateo County to see $1B to $2B for affordable housing funds if approved.

Housing advocates’ push to ease affordable housing fees in Sonoma County faces early hurdles, gains some support | The Press Democrat

Housing advocates’ call to lower affordable housing fees has hit speed bumps at several local governments amid a broadening push for immediate action to spur more development.

Supreme Court divided on homelessness case that will impact California encampment policy | The Press Democrat

The justices are likely to hand down a ruling in late June.

It’s a weird dynamic’: the US parents financially supporting their adult children | The Guardian

Criminalizing Homelessness Won’t Make It Go Away | The New York Times

Builders may challenge California’s development ‘impact fees,’ Supreme Court rules | The North Bay Business Journal

Cory Maguire

Tony Crabb

Rick Theis

Generation Housing | generationhousing.org