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. 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.
Caritas Family Center: Caritas Family Center is 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. To make or receive a referral please call 707-978-8329 or email [email protected] or go to the Caritas Drop-In Center at 301 6th Street (Suite 108).
Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter: Samuel L. Jones Hall is Sonoma County’s largest emergency shelter. The City-owned facility has been 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 was constructed in 2021 to restore shelter bed capacity that was lost due to COVID-19 social-distancing requirements and is operated in conjunction with the main shelter facility. To make or receive a referral please call 707-978-8329 or email [email protected] or go to the Caritas Drop-In Center at 301 6th Street (Suite 108).
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. YWCA operates the community’s ONLY 24/7 Crisis Hotline for victims of domestic violence. Families seeking safety from domestic violence can call the hotline at 707-546-1234 to discuss options, including the YWCA’s residential program known as the Safe House.
If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless and need help please visit Sonoma County’s Homelessness Services website for information on the Coordinated Entry system and resources available to you.
Caritas Drop-In Center: Caritas Drop-In Center (formerly known as the Homeless Services Center) is at Caritas Village 301 6th Street (Suite 108), entrance on Morgan and 6th Streets. The center is open Mon.- Fri., 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. services are limited to mail collection and restroom use only. 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 Life Center: 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. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 1:30 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: The City Encampment Team is 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]
Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program: In June 2023, City of Santa Rosa was awarded nearly $3.9 million in funding from the State of California’s ERF Program. The grant monies are being used to address encampments in the Southwest and Southeast regions of Santa Rosa (Project Area), to provide residents who reside in those encampments with comprehensive services to help them move into housing.
Seasons of Sharing: Seasons of Sharing is rental assistance administered by Community Action Partnership to assist individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with one-time financial assistance grants, to obtain housing or provide housing stabilization. A list of partner agencies for application assistance can be found here.
Housing First Fund: The Housing First Fund was authorized by City Council in 2018 to further efforts by the Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) 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): 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: The Safe Parking 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 Caritas Drop-In Center at 301 6th Street (Suite 108).
Warming Center: The Warming Center is 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.
-
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.