Big news! We’ve added new housing program data - check them out under “Housing Programs” on each city page.
Housing programs are the strategies that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.
Local housing programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well.
Use the below data to explore this jurisdiction’s approaches to affirmatively furthering fair housing for the 6th element cycle, and review the actions, deliverables, and deadlines committed to for each program.
PROGRAM NUMBER | ACTIONS | DELIVERABLE | DELIVERABLE DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| HO-5.Ab) | Provide and maintain information on rehabilitation programs, including the CDC
rehabilitation program, on the City's website.
| The City strives to assist at least 12 households through housing rehabilitation programs described above, with an emphasis on the City's older neighborhoods (A and B Section) and its lower resource areas. | Ongoing, beginning in 2023 |
| HO-1.D | D Streamline Development Process (Source: New program, addresses stakeholder
feedback and potential governmental constraints)While the City's processes generally support streamlined development review, the City
shall implement the following actions to ensure compliance with state law. | ||
| HO-3.Fd) | Pursue funding for appropriate projects on City-owned sites in inventory.
| Ongoing, consistent with schedule of actions below. | |
| HO-4.Aa) | Consider a Condominium Conversion ordinance to limit the loss of rental housing stock.
| Present information and data regarding Condominium Conversions and policy options to the Planning Commission and City Council in 2028. If directed, adopt ordinance by December 2028 | |
| HO-5.Cc) | Pursue funding for infrastructure and affordable housing to support development of
project, including Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG) funding.
| Ongoing, starting in 2023 | |
| HO-4.Db) | Continue facilitation of the Rohnert Park Homelessness Roundtable on a regular
basis.
| Monthly or as needed, beginning in January 2023 | |
| HO-4.Ab) | Continue to promote programs for housing stability and eviction prevention. Prepare a
directory of trusted community partners willing to promote these programs. Utilize these
partnerships to share resources in a culturally sensitive manner and incorporate place-
based outreach.
| Prepare list by 2023 | |
| HO-3.Ca) | In partnership with a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and non-profit asset manager, utilize
tax-exempt governmental purpose bonds to fund: (1) the acquisition of existing market-
rate apartment complexes and restrict future rents to be affordable to households that
earn very low to moderate incomes, and (2) the construction of new development of
deed-restricted affordable housing. In order for asset managers to access these types of
bonds, Cities must join a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and authorize the JPA to issue these
bonds on behalf of the City. The JPA, in partnership with the non-profit asset manager,
then purchases the apartment complex, using only money from the bond financing, and
sets the rents to be affordable to low- to moderate- income households.
The City will provide committed assistance by authorizing CSCDA or another appropriate
JPA to issue an estimated $191,264,100 in bonds and by foregoing an estimated $337,346
in property taxes as a result of these projects converting from market-rate to deed-
restricted affordable. The City will also provide in-kind services of staff time to support
program implementation, including 200 hours to establish the program and an additional
200 hours per acquisition project. This combined committed assistance will be sufficient
to provide at least 222 affordable housing units, including 99 affordable to very low-
income households, 57 affordable to low-income households, and 66 affordable to
moderate-income households and will meet all requirements of Government Code
Section 65583.1, including but not limited to subdivision (c)(1) and (2).
| Establish JPA structure or join existing JPA by July 2023 Implement construction or acquisition projects through 2031 | |
| HO-1.Ca) | As part of the General Plan update, the City shall rezone sufficient sites in order to
demonstrate an adequate inventory of sites to meet its Regional Housing Needs
Allocation (RHNA). The City will rezone at least 8.3 acres to high density residential, which
allows and has standards to facilitate residential development at 24 units per acre.
Rezoned sites will have sufficient capacity to accommodate 196 units, including 14 very
low-income units, 19 low-income units, 102 moderate-income units, and 61 above
moderate-income units. These sites shall meet the rezoning standards set forth in
Government Code Section 65583.2 for sites available to accommodate the lower-income
RHNA.
| Rezone sites within one year of adopting the Housing Element | |
| HO-5.Cb) | Consistent with the Exempt Surplus Land Act resolution adopted by the City Council on
March 14, 2023.5 implement land donation or long-term ground lease in the Station
Center area for development of housing, of which 25% shall be targeted as deed-
restricted as affordable to lower-income households, through development of a
comprehensive and competitive program to solicit request for proposals (RFPs), with an
application publicly available on the City's website.
| Adopt resolution in March 2023. Release RFP by January 2025. | |
| HO-2.Ba) | Conduct outreach annually for the housing fair, including contacting the following:
- Developers that build affordable housing, supportive housing, farmworker housing,
and housing for persons with disabilities
- Local lenders (See 3.A)
- Local fair housing organizations and advocates for residents with special housing
needs
- Local providers of affordable housinge Homeless service providers
- Regional organizations that provide technical assistance for the development of
ADUs and JADUs
| Annual | |
| HO-3.A | A Mortgage Credit Certificate Program (Source: Continuing program, addresses previous
program HO-3.A)
The Mortgage Credit Certification (MCC) Program offers first-time low- and moderate-
income homebuyers a federal income tax credit. This credit reduces the amount of
federal taxes the holder of the certificate would pay. It can also help first-time
homebuyers qualify for a loan by allowing a lender to reduce the housing expense ratio
by the amount of tax savings. The qualified homebuyer who is awarded an MCC may take
an annual credit against the federal income taxes paid on the homebuyer's
mortgage. The credit is subtracted dollar-for-dollar from the federal income taxes. The
qualified buyer is awarded a tax credit of up to 15%, and the remaining 85% is deducted
normally.
The Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC) participated in this
program during part of the previous planning period. The CDC was temporarily unable to
administer this program as staff experienced suddenly expanded workloads responding
to local emergencies while experiencing turnovers in leadership and departures of key
staff. As staffing levels and capacity have again increased, the CDC will restart
participation in the MCC program by the end of 2023.Once the CDC resumes participation in the MCC Program, the program will be
implemented through private lenders so that homebuyers in Rohnert Park can continue
to benefit from the federal Program. The City will invite local lenders to the annual
housing fair (See 2.B) , provide information on the MCC Program, and report
out on these efforts in the Annual Planning Report.
| City anticipates referring at least 15 prospective homebuyers throughout the City to the Sonoma County Community Development Commission's Mortgage Credit Certificate Program. | Outreach annually, beginning in 2024 |
| HO-3.F | F Affordable Housing on Underutilized City Sites (Source: New program, addresses local
needs and priorities, and assists in accommodating regional housing needs)
The City shall support the development of affordable housing on underutilized City-
owned sites by taking the following actions: | ||
| HO-4.Da) | Invest funding in outreach services and housing programs, such as interim housing,
rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing. Utilize metrics-driven approach
to ensure programs are performing according to their agreement with the City.
| Ongoing, at least annually, beginning in 2023 | |
| HO-2.Ac) | Create and publish a summary that identifies the sites on the City's Sites Inventory and
make the summary available online in map format. Provide site-specific development
information and support whenever possible in order to reduce up-front costs for
interested housing developers.
| Create summary by 2023 Update annually or as sites are developed | |
| HO-2.Ea) | The City will prepare a Workforce Housing Overlay (WFHO) that further provides for the
City's identified housing needs. The City will determine locational factors for the
implementation of WFHO that may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Distance to transit
eHigher resource zones
eProximity to jobs
Findings and recommendations will be presented to the Planning Commission and City
Council. If directed, WFHO will be adopted into the Code within 6 months
| Present by January 2026 If directed, adopt within 6 months | |
| HO-2.Aa) | Post all required information about development standards and fees to an easily
accessed location on the City's website.
| January 2024 | |
| HO-2.Bb) | Facilitate opportunities for collaboration between market-rate and affordable housing
developers through the annual housing fair.
| Annual | |
| HO-3.Fa) | Outreach to property owners, businesses, and residents of adjacent parcels of City-
owned inventory sites. Provide annual status updates on stakeholders and co-facilitate
community meeting(s) with potential developer of site if site is being actively considered
for housing project.
| below Ongoing, begin prior to RFP for each project, consistent with schedule | |
| HO-4.B | B Fair Housing Information (Source: Continuing program, includes previous programs HO-
6.A, HO-3.B, previous policies HO-6.3 and HO-6.4)
The City shall take measures to provide and publicize information regarding fair housing
programs, housing rights, and complaint procedures, including the following actions: |