In October 2017, the Tubbs fire destroyed over 3,000 residential units in Santa Rosa, constituting a loss of approximately five percent of the City’s housing stock. In response to the 2017 wildfires, the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) allocated Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to the State of California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) to be distributed statewide to disaster-affected areas. 

HCD allocated $38,469,772 in CDBG-DR funds to the City of Santa Rosa for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and/or new construction of affordable multifamily housing. Due to the Housing Authority’s relevant experience and program knowledge, the Santa Rosa City Council delegated administration to the Housing Authority in October 2020.  

A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published on November 3, 2020 with applications due on December 3, 2020. Seventeen applications were received, requesting approximately $149 million for 1,283 affordable housing units, far surpassing the funds available. Following review and analysis of the applications, the Housing Authority awarded funding to the following projects, subject to final approval by HCD:

• 3575 Mendocino Avenue, Phase I, the site of the former Journey’s End Mobile Home Park on Mendocino Avenue, is a 94-unit, apartment development for seniors with one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.  The project was approved for a loan in the amount of $11,917,110 and is expected to begin construction by September 2021. 
• Caritas Homes, Phase I, located in downtown Santa Rosa, is a 64-unit, multifamily apartment development with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.  Approximately half of the units are dedicated to chronically homeless persons with disabilities.  The project was approved for a loan in the amount of $8,945,657 and is expected to begin construction by August 2021.
• The Cannery at Railroad Square, located in Railroad Square, is a 129-unit, multifamily apartment development with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.  The project was approved for a loan in the amount of $10,300,000 and is expected to begin construction in July 2021.
• Burbank Avenue Apartments, located in Roseland on Burbank Avenue, is 64-unit, multifamily apartment development with one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units.  The project is was approved for a loan in the amount of $5,000,000 and is expected to begin construction in April 2022.
• Linda Tunis Senior Apartments, located at the site of the former Scottish Rite Temple on Acacia Lane in Rincon Valley, is a 26-unit, senior apartment development with studio units.  The project was approved for a loan in the amount of $2,190,340 and is expected to begin renovations in August 2021.

The Housing Authority is pleased to be able to assist with the financing of 377 units of affordable housing which upon completion will be integrated into the City’s portfolio of affordable housing units.