Office of the Mayor
City of Santa Rosa
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, room 10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
June 15, 2022
The Honorable Alex Padilla
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Padilla:
I am writing to express the City of Santa Rosa’s strong support for the Housing for All Act of 2022, which aligns with the City’s 2022 Federal Legislative Platform Housing and Community Development priority area approved by the City Council on January 25, 2022.
According to the National Low-Incoming Housing Coalition, that the United States has a shortage of 6.8 million affordable homes available to low-income renters. In California, more than 1.4 million units are needed to address the affordable housing shortage, and more than 161,000 people experience homelessness in the state each night – including families with young children, veterans and victims of domestic violence. Prior to the pandemic, one in four renters spent half of their monthly income on rent, and nearly one million tenants were evicted each year.
The October 2017 fires exacerbated an already significant housing shortage in Santa Rosa and caused significant increases in home prices. Rising costs are causing many essential workers to live in overcrowded homes, commute long distances, or move away, making it harder for employers—including businesses, hospitals, schools, and local governments—to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, and impacting our ability to meet local climate goals. Residents who remain in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County are left with reduced spending power, which is especially challenging for those experiencing poverty and putting them at increased risk of homelessness.
In December 2018, the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County formed the Renewal Enterprise District (RED) Housing Fund, a joint powers authority to create a balanced housing market in Santa Rosa and address the region’s critical need for in-fill housing for all incomes. The City and Sonoma County have committed $20 million in loan capital to launch the RED Housing Fund.
Your legislation, by investing nearly $532 billion over ten years in the National Housing Trust Fund, supportive housing programs for the elderly and people with disabilities, Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, the Eviction Protection Grant Program, and other
Office of the Mayor
City of Santa Rosa
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, room 10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
measures, will provide essential resources to help Santa Rosa and other communities leverage local funding to address ongoing affordable housing and homeless issues.
Thank you for your continued leadership on this critical issue and we pledge our commitment to work with you as we make strategic investments that will provide affordable housing for all our residents.
Sincerely,
Chris Rogers
Mayor