Sonoma County Housing Authority announces approval of annual and five-year plans for Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Board of Supervisors today, acting as the Sonoma County Housing Authority Commission, approved the Public Housing Authority’s annual and five-year plans for the administration of the Housing Choice Voucher Program under contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This pivotal program is the largest initiative run by the Community Development Commission and is essential in providing housing stability for low-income households throughout Sonoma County.

“These advancements represent a critical step forward in addressing Sonoma County's housing challenges,” said Lynda Hopkins, Chair of the Board of Supervisors/Commissioner. “These voucher plans enhance stability for residents in need and provide much-needed support for the most vulnerable members of the community.”

The five-year plan outlines key objectives to further enhance the program’s impact, including:

• Expanding housing choices for assisted tenants
• Increasing the availability of assisted housing
• Supporting the self-sufficiency of program participants
• Maintaining a high-performing Section 8 Management Assessment Program score

The 2024-25 annual plan highlights the progress made by the Housing Authority in fulfilling goals set in 2020. Notable accomplishments from 2020-2025 include:

• Assisting 223 households (345 individuals) experiencing homelessness by providing them with permanent housing
• Securing 458 new rental assistance vouchers, including:
  • 141 new Mainstream vouchers
  • 113 Family Unification Program vouchers
  • 153 Emergency Housing vouchers
  • 16 new Housing Choice vouchers
  • 15 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers
  • 20 Foster Youth to Independence vouchers

The vouchers were deployed in collaboration with the Sonoma County Homelessness Coalition, Sonoma County Coordinated Entry System, the Human Services Department, and numerous local supportive service providers.

In addition, the Housing Authority has strengthened its partnerships with supportive service agencies, enabling the successful implementation of Continuum of Care-funded grants, specialized voucher programs, and homeless preferences to assist specific populations, including people with disabilities, homeless families, senior citizens, victims of domestic violence, former foster youth and families working toward reunification with their children.

The Housing Authority assists approximately 3,200 households monthly through various rental assistance programs. Furthermore, 337 new Project-Based vouchers have been deployed into new affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing units across the county.

In another significant development, the Sonoma County Housing Authority on March 24 received notification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the inflation factor assigned to Sonoma County Housing Authority had been adjusted. This will allow Sonoma County’s Housing Authority to begin offering vouchers to households selected through the Housing Choice Voucher, commonly known as Section 8, Waitlist Lottery, which closed on Oct. 31, 2023. In its efforts to have the inflation factor adjusted, the County received strong support from Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, who have been engaged on the issue and are fully supportive of such housing initiatives.

For more information about the Sonoma County Housing Authority and its programs, please visit the webpage.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Sonoma County Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403