From:
To: City Council
Subject: Agenda item #8 Public Comment
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 2:49:57 PM
Dear City Council of Sebastopol,
Thank you for reviewing my plea on behalf of the families living in the Woodmark Apartments facing eviction. Imagine being a single Mom of a special needs 9-year old who has spent several years advocating for your child to attend a school within the designated residential area that will help your child become a capable, functioning adult only to be faced, yet again, with moving your child to yet another school and beginning the battle again for resources and support after finally being able to provide an environment in which your child can actually learn and thrive. Imagine you finally get stable housing for you and your child within the range of special education, a place you can finally call home. No longer worrying how you are going to pay rent, pay for food and endless resources needed to raise a child. You work 4 jobs, 7 days a week, but your work is tailored so you can be there for your child before and after school.
Without family support and going through proper channels you have finally found a home, a sacred and safe space to raise your child and not share the same bed. It is a dream come true.
Then, less than a year later you find out it was a dream. An unfortunate gamble and huge mistake made by the housing developer, you are now getting evicted with no viable or affordable housing in site. Your dream has truly become a nightmare as a result of actions outside of your control. No prior notice, no warning upon moving in that your lease is only for one year and you may be required to move. You, Single Mom of a special needs 9 year old, did everything right and by the book. You did nothing wrong.
Worst of all, salt in the open wound, is this housing will undoubtedly sit empty for months, possibly years. Where will you go? What will you do? Will you have to live on the streets? Sleep in your car? Pull your child out of school after years of struggling to give him vital stability and resources for them to thrive versus simply survive.
Dear Council, my friend I speak of is one of the most incredible people I have ever known. She is also one of the hardest workers I have ever known. Also a survivor of domestic abuse, a sober person who follows all of the rules and an upstanding citizen just trying to make a good life for her child, her world. I recall the day she got housing at Woodmark and how we hugged strong and long, tears in our eyes. I remember her believing she could really do this and maybe even go back to school now that she and her son have a more stable life. Her story of hope after hardship is only one story of the 40+ families and her son one of 41 kids that will be displaced. Only given a few petty months to process and take action for such a devastating life change. Incredulous.
Sincerely yours,
Brandi Moretz