We can and must do better.

Mayor Stapp, and members of the City Council:

Yesterday, my colleagues and I on your Housing Authority authorized the extension and subordination of long-term loans made on your behalf to allow community providers of low cost housing to continue or transfer program operations for properties in Santa Rosa used to house autistic and homeless individuals and families.  It was particularly satisfying to me because I headed the requesting agencies when the loans were first made.  But much has changed in America for those of us dedicated to providing low cost homes.

Rental prices for nonprofit housing are dependent on the cost of loans we needed to build the housing.  The fewer and cheaper our loans, the lower the rents could be, and the more we could spend on maintaining the units. Yesterday’s actions by the Housing Authority insured you’ll have thirty more years of low rents and healthy facilities.  Housing built with state grants which don’t require repayment, as in agenda item 13.6, allow us to provide homes for our lowest income residents.  

But it takes more than a facility to ease someone back inside whose life has been destroyed on the streets.  Caritas Phase II is intended for veterans, chronic homeless, and those at risk of homelessness.  And no expectation of success can be counted on unless the addition of mental health and substance use disorder services are provided.  Over the past forty years, I can tell you that nothing has been clearer. The application you are considering approving tonight needs more than California Homekey+ facility funding.  It needs mental health and substance use disorder funding from the County and state to successfully meet the needs of your residents.