Housing Services
In 1984, the City of Petaluma implemented a comprehensive and aggressive Housing Program, which has been successful in providing 1,336 affordable units. The City has exceeded its General Plan mandate to provide 10-15% of all market rate units as affordable, by providing a 22.5% share of new housing over the last fifteen years.
As an Entitlement Jurisdiction under the Community Development Block Grant Program, Petaluma allocates the majority of its CDBG allocation for housing development and housing-related services, including housing for special needs populations such as the elderly, homeless, and people with disabilities. Both HOME and Emergency Shelter Funds are also available to Petaluma because of our status as an Entitlement Community.
The foundations of the Housing Program are the City’s
2005-2010
Consolidated Plan Strategy, our State-certified Housing Element, and the Redevelopment Agency’s Implementation Plan. Its success is derived from the ongoing support of the community and its decision-makers and the development of healthy public-private-nonprofit relationships.
Two of the Housing Program funding sources are: 1) The fee collected in-lieu of providing units and 2) the Commercial Linkage Fee, collected to mitigate the housing impacts of new, changed or expanded commercial, retail or industrial development.
The City of Petaluma contracts with a number of sophisticated community-based nonprofit agencies which serve as the City’s development and service delivery arm through the City-Assisted Housing Projects and Programs. Twice a year, the City of Petaluma conducts a Vacancy Survey (link to pdf) to measure the number of rental vacancies in properties with 30 or more units. These numbers are then compared to the county-wide statistics and used as a measure for future housing needs assessment.
The Housing program is mission-driven, flexible, and simple, allowing it to change with the changing needs of the community. Starting in 1984 with small complexes for the elderly, the program now serves the entire spectrum of housing needs: homeless shelters for both families and singles; shared and transitional housing for those families leaving the shelter; workforce housing for families and singles; homeownership opportunities; and special needs housing. Our housing rehabilitation needs are addressed by Christmas In April*Petaluma.
Petaluma has partnered with the Department of Housing and Urban Development
and California’s Housing & Community Development Department on a number of successful projects.
The Housing program is administered by the Housing and Block Grant Administrator and is part of the Community Development Department. Council goals are articulated annually and Requests For Proposals are solicited to address those goals. Responses and funding allocations are judged on the applicants’ ability to achieve community goals, their track record in successful development, and their ability to ensure excellent property and program management.
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