Programs and Initiatives
The City of Santa Rosa has developed a five-year Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan, which outlines actions to address homelessness from 2023-2027 in alignment with the Sonoma County Continuum of Care. The City works with community partners to provide outreach, shelter, housing, and services to persons experiencing homelessness, or those who are at risk of becoming homeless, and follows the Housing First Strategy, providing individualized assistance to people experiencing homelessness toward the goal of obtaining housing. Click on the corresponding tab(s) below for more information about the programs and initiatives currently funded by the City within each area of service.
Family Support Center: A 192-bed emergency shelter operated by Catholic Charities for families experiencing homelessness. The center provides food, clothing, children’s activities, medical and dental care, and client-focused family action plans and services to overcome homelessness.
Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter: A City-owned facility operated by Catholic Charities since it opened in 2005. This housing-focused emergency shelter provides up to 213 year-round beds for single adults experiencing homelessness. Samuel L. Jones Hall Shelter Annex, constructed in 2021 to restore shelter bed capacity that was lost due to COVID-19 social-distancing requirements, provides up to 60 beds and is operated in conjunction with the main shelter facility. These 60 beds are part of the total 213 year-round beds provided on-site.
YWCA: The YWCA Sonoma County supports families affected by domestic violence by providing safe shelter in a confidential location as well as therapy, advocacy, and on-going support and operates the community’s ONLY 24/7 Crisis Hotline for victims of domestic violence 707-546-1234.
If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless and need help please visit Sonoma County’s Coordinated Entry System website for more information on housing assistance and emergency shelter intake information.
Homeless Services Center: Homeless Services Center operations have opened at the new Caritas Village at 301 6th Street (Suite 108), entrance on Morgan and 6th Streets. The center is open Mon.- Fri., 6 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 - 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday afternoons the center is open for retrieval of mail only, no shower services available. Operated by Catholic Charities, this is a multi-service day center in downtown Santa Rosa for persons experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County. The Center provides showers, laundry services, telephone, mail service, referrals, shelter intake services, and more. Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) operations are based at this facility as well.
The Living Room: The Living Room Life Center is at 1335 North Dutton Avenue and is open to women and their children who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness in Sonoma County: Mon. - Wed. and Fri., 9 a.m. - 3 p.m and Thursdays 1:30 p.m – 3 p.m. Mobile showers are available at this site Fridays 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Comprehensive services are offered focused on promoting stability and self-reliance, including meals, community referrals, computer classes, peer support and mentoring, case management, and more.
City Encampment Team: A multi-disciplinary team focused on a compassionate approach to address the health, safety and shelter needs of persons living in encampments and to ease the impacts to surrounding communities.
Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST): Operated by Catholic Charities and funded by the City, HOST is a street outreach team working to engage persons experiencing homelessness into services and housing in collaboration with the Police Department’s Downtown Enforcement Team (DET) and other service providers and community partners. For referrals call (707) 978-8329 or email [email protected]
HCA Family Fund: Operated by Community Action Partnership to assist individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with rental assistance combined with financial coaching, to empower the participants for future housing stability. Clients can contact the Community Action Partnership front office at 707-544-6911.
Housing First Fund: Authorized by City Council in 2018 to further efforts by the Homeless Outreach Services Team to assist persons experiencing homelessness to obtain housing. The funding goes towards landlord incentives, risk mitigation, tenant assistance and housing assistance such as security deposits and rental payments.
Community Homeless Assistance Program (CHAP): Allows property owners to use commercial properties or properties/facilities that meet the zoning code definition for “Meeting Facility, Public or Private”, for safe parking, safe camping, the placement and maintenance of portable toilets and access to existing bathroom facilities, provision of temporary overnight shelter, and storage for personal belongings. Read the CHAP Guidelines or email [email protected] for more information.
Safe Parking Program: Opened March 7, 2022 and authorized for two years of funding, this program provides up to 50 parking spaces for adults who are experiencing homelessness as a place to safely park their vehicle or RV with access to basic services and wrap-around services to help end participants' homelessness. To make or receive a referral please call 707-978-8329 or email [email protected] or go to the Homeless Services Center at 301 6th Street (Suite 108). The center is open Mon.- Fri., 6 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 - 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday afternoons the center is open for retrieval of mail only.
Safe Social Distancing Program: Operated May to November 2020, this program was established as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tents and services were provided to allow vulnerable unsheltered individuals a safer alternative to living in encampments. The program closed prior to onset of winter weather conditions in 2020.
Warming Center: Opened at the direction of the City Manager in response to extreme cold weather conditions under the City's Extreme Weather Warming Center Policy. When activated, the community will be notified of the location and hours of operation, including outreach to individuals who may need assistance to stay warm. The Warming Center is a drop-in place to warm up and charge devices; it is not a shelter and no cots for sleeping are provided. Referrals are provided to those who seek indoor emergency shelter.
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Housing & Community Services
Physical Address
90 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: 707-543-3300Fax: 707-543-3317
TDD: 707-543-3318
Email the DepartmentHousing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.