Big news! We’ve added new housing program data - check them out under “Housing Programs” on each city page.
Housing programs are the strategies that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.
Local housing programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well.
Use the below data to explore this jurisdiction’s approaches to affirmatively furthering fair housing for the 6th element cycle, and review the actions, deliverables, and deadlines committed to for each program.
PROGRAM NUMBER | ACTIONS | DELIVERABLE | DELIVERABLE DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-1) | The City Council has made access to healthy and safe housing for all Healdsburg residents a high priority. To ensure the housing needs of the community are being met, the City has created and funded a Housing Department that administers the City’s housing programs and development efforts, including those below. The City will continue to provide the following under Housing Program 1:
During the 5th Cycle, the City strengthened and formed strategic partnerships with experienced housing service providers including Reach for Home, formerly North Sonoma County Services (NSCS), Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County, Fair Housing Advocates of Sonoma County, Corazón Healdsburg, and others. In partnership, these, and other, service providers assist the City in ensuring residents have direct access to: Financial assistance for low-income tenants at risk of displacement, Fair housing services for tenants and landlords, First-time homebuyer assistance for low-income and moderate-income families, and Emergency and transitional housing services. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; sustain existing partnerships and seek new partnerships as may be appropriate. | Ongoing activity; sustain existing partnerships and seek new partnerships as may be appropriate. |
| 1-2) | Efforts will be continued to publicize and provide financial and procedural assistance to affordable housing through land donations and long-term leases, the ongoing fee-deferral program, subsidies for City fees and on- and off-site improvements, loans, and other forms of assistance. Procedural assistance will include publicizing and assisting at least one dozen affordable housing developers over the planning cycle with available incentives and housing programs, such as the density bonus ordinance, small subdivision ordinance, and Growth Management Ordinance provisions and procedures. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; sustain existing efforts to assist and provide local subsidy funding to affordable housing developers on a project-by-project basis as individual affordable housing projects are proposed, approved, and supported by the City, assist 100% of active project proposers citywide in their efforts to secure State and/or Federal funding at least annually throughout the planning cycle. | Ongoing activity; sustain existing efforts to assist and provide local subsidy funding to affordable housing developers on a project-by-project basis as individual affordable housing projects are proposed, approved, and supported by the City, assist 100% of active project proposers citywide in their efforts to secure State and/or Federal funding at least annually throughout the planning cycle. |
| 1-4) | The existing and increasing inventory of affordable housing will require monitoring, typically in cooperation with the developers and owners of the individual affordable housing projects. The objective of this program is to ensure that households continue to qualify for price-restricted rents, consistent with HCD income limits, and that other covenants and obligations are being met. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; expand existing effort beginning in 2023 to encompass new affordable units coming on-line during the 6th Cycle; complete on-site monitoring for all City-funded projects; expand monitoring services to include entrance and exit surveys to understand need of those served by affordable housing. | Ongoing activity; expand existing effort beginning in 2023 to encompass new affordable units coming on-line during the 6th Cycle; complete on-site monitoring for all City-funded projects; expand monitoring services to include entrance and exit surveys to understand need of those served by affordable housing. |
| 1-5) | Review and report annually on the implementation of Housing Element programs for the prior calendar year and present the annual report to the City Council at a public hearing before submitting the annual report to HCD and the Office of Planning and Research (OPR). | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; annual reports will be prepared by April 1, 2023 through 2031 documenting progress towards meeting RHNA and other 6th Cycle housing policies and programs. | Ongoing activity; annual reports will be prepared by April 1, 2023 through 2031 documenting progress towards meeting RHNA and other 6th Cycle housing policies and programs. |
| 1-6) | The City currently relies upon a variety of funding sources in support of affordable housing development including an allocation of the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax, negotiated agreements with developers and Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in lieu fees, and various grant program awards. In addition to these sources the City will continue participation in the Joint Powers Authority with Sonoma County and other Sonoma County jurisdictions to further City’s eligibility for traditional State and Federal funding (e.g., CDBG and HOME programs) and new programs such as California SB-1 Sustainable Communities Grants, the Strategic Growth Council and HCD Sustainable Communities Programs and HCD’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation, and regional funding programs offered by ABAG/MTC. These efforts will require applying for regional, State, and Federal grants for affordable housing, providing documentation as needed in support of project applications for State and Federal financial assistance. Continuing prior efforts, the City will continue to evaluate potential new local funding sources, such as JPA and 501(c) (3) bonds for acquisition and new construction and will implement this model in the first two years of the 6th Cycle. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; expand existing effort beginning in 2023, to identify and establish additional affordable housing funding sources; local funding program implemented by April 2025. | Ongoing activity; expand existing effort beginning in 2023, to identify and establish additional affordable housing funding sources; local funding program implemented by April 2025. |
| 1-7) | Continue to engage and support the Housing Element Working Group (HEWG) or other successor community focus groups in Housing Element implementation efforts. The HEWG was convened as a public advisory body in support of the 6th Cycle Housing Element update but is being extended by the City Council to serve as a resource to advance policies, implement programs, and support broader community engagement efforts. Specific efforts identified include consideration of options for amending the Growth Management Ordinance, evaluating development capacity and how planning and regulatory measures can increase housing development capacity, strategies for expanding ‘middle’ housing, expanding funding sources, and considering priorities for new area and specific plans. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; at least once per calendar year, provide updates to the City Council and seek Council direction on policy; continue existing effort as directed by the City Council. | Ongoing activity; at least once per calendar year, provide updates to the City Council and seek Council direction on policy; continue existing effort as directed by the City Council. |
| 1-9) | While most of the assets of the Successor Agency and Housing Successor Agency have been utilized, there are ongoing responsibilities and obligations of the former Redevelopment Agency. The Housing Department will continue to fulfill this role. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; sustain existing Successor Agency functions until such time as all related obligations are met and properties divested and/or developed. | Ongoing activity; sustain existing Successor Agency functions until such time as all related obligations are met and properties divested and/or developed. |
| 1-10) | Through addressing constraints to development and fair housing opportunities, the City will strive to achieve and maintain the State’s Prohousing Designation throughout the 6th Cycle. This designation will provide the City an advantage in applications for competitive funding sources, including the Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities Program, Infill Infrastructure Grant, and a direct pool of Prohousing Incentive Pilot (PIP) funds available to designated communities. In collaboration with the Napa Sonoma Collaborative (or similar/successor organizations) and local nonprofit organizations, the City will analyze policies and programs needed to exceed the threshold for the Prohousing Designation program and apply in 2023. | Continuing and expanded efforts initiated in 2023 as documented in the Annual Progress Reports; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide, with 6th Cycle affordable housing development primarily concentrated in the City’s relatively higher income northern tract (-013). [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; application submitted in December 2022, and Prohousing designation anticipated in 2023. | Ongoing activity; application submitted in December 2022, and Prohousing designation anticipated in 2023. |
| 2 | As part of the overall Housing Strategy, preserving existing affordable and market-rate housing is a very high priority because sustaining this housing, both in quantity, quality, and affordability, is generally more cost-effective and less resource-intensive than creating new housing. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge | The following actions are targeted to result ‘no net loss’ of existing housing units and in a minimum of 61 units, all ‘very low’ and ‘extremely low income,’ to be rehabilitated; and 70 units, ‘extremely low,’ ‘very low,’ and ‘low,’ to be preserved as affordable units during the 6th Cycle. |
| 2-1) | Recognizing the relatively large stock of market-rate multifamily rental buildings, continue seeking opportunities to purchase and rehabilitate multifamily rental housing buildings to provide these housing units at prices affordable to households at a variety of income levels. The City will proactively monitor the availability of properties on the market and responsively coordinate with property owners interested in selling mutifamily property. Single-family properties with capacity for redevelopment at greater intensity will be considered for conversion to multifamily or supportive housing on an opportunity basis. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; provide 39 units affordable to Very Low-income households by the end of 2023 within the “Scattered Sites” project discussed in Section 3; sustain existing opportunistic acquisition and rehabilitation actions when housing rental buildings come onto the market or seek the City’s assistance. Given history, two or three additional opportunities may occur during the 6th Cycle. | Ongoing activity; provide 39 units affordable to Very Low-income households by the end of 2023 within the “Scattered Sites” project discussed in Section 3; sustain existing opportunistic acquisition and rehabilitation actions when housing rental buildings come onto the market or seek the City’s assistance. Given history, two or three additional opportunities may occur during the 6th Cycle. |
| 2-2) | Replace any housing units displaced due to a redevelopment project with equivalent housing units, as a condition of approval. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; assure continuing consistency with Government Code Section 65915 requirements to replace any housing units displaced by development activity on a project-by-project basis; report such loss and replacement on an annual basis beginning in April 2023. | Ongoing activity; assure continuing consistency with Government Code Section 65915 requirements to replace any housing units displaced by development activity on a project-by-project basis; report such loss and replacement on an annual basis beginning in April 2023. |
| 2-3) | Continue to enforce the terms of the Mobile Home Park Space Rent Stabilization ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 2.56) and administer the procedures of the ordinance to ensure the continued preservation of affordability of mobile homes parks within the City. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; sustain existing Rent Stabilization Ordinance. | Ongoing activity; sustain existing Rent Stabilization Ordinance. |
| 2-4) | Continue to enforce the terms of the City’s prohibition of vacation home rentals (i.e., fewer than 30 days) in residential zoning districts, and conversions of homes to commercial use (offices, etc.). | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; sustain existing prohibition of vacation home rentals. | Ongoing activity; sustain existing prohibition of vacation home rentals. |
| 2-5) | As part of implementing this housing program, measure and track the number of existing second-home conversions and report changes annually as part of the Annual Housing Report, beginning in 2023. Identify and pursue actions for mitigating loss of housing to second homes through the presentation of an action plan to City Council. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge [Sub action deliverable/time]:New technical effort and regulatory action; adopt actions needed to mitigate the loss of housing to second home use including identification of needed funding source(s) not later than end of year 2024. | New technical effort and regulatory action; adopt actions needed to mitigate the loss of housing to second home use including identification of needed funding source(s) not later than end of year 2024. |
| 2-6) | In collaboration with the City Fire Department, regional agencies, CalFire, and organized property owner groups, and building upon existing efforts, adopt and implement additional programs and related investments that reduce wildfire hazards, consistent with the City’s General Plan Safety Element update. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Progress Report; implementation timing of subprograms noted above Target: Citywide; subprogram geography in relation to location of existing multifamily development, new housing development for replacement units, mobile home parks, and wildfire risk concentrated in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) along Healdsburg’s eastern edge [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing inter-agency coordination and new plan and regulation; initiate and complete Safety Element Update addressing wildfire hazard reduction and reslience not later than June 2024. | Ongoing inter-agency coordination and new plan and regulation; initiate and complete Safety Element Update addressing wildfire hazard reduction and reslience not later than June 2024. |
| 3-1) | The primary intent of the State Housing Law that requires adoption of Housing Elements by cities and counties is assuring adequate sites for a prescribed (through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation) amount of housing affordable to the full range of household income categories.
Monitor the supply of residential sites and related development projects to ensure that sufficient developable sites and units are available to meet the 6th Cycle RHNA requirement. Building upon the existing effort, maintain and expand a detailed listing of sites available for housing development and use this list to assure RHNA requirements are met and also to attract residential developers to the City. Also, assure ‘No Net Loss’ of residential units by disallowing or mitigating any loss of housing due to redevelopment of existing areas containing housing units. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Report on Housing Element; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide [Sub action deliverable/time]:Ongoing activity; sustain existing Residential Sites and assure ‘not net loss’ as the result of their development; potential changes to the Housing Element Sites Inventory reported in the APR by April 1 of each year through 2031. | The following Program 3 actions are targeted to result ‘no net loss’ of existing housing sites and target 75 affordable units in relatively higher income areas using a variety of housing types, including small lots, duplexes, triplexes, multifamily, and accessory dwelling units. 3-1: Ongoing activity; sustain existing Residential Sites and assure ‘not net loss’ as the result of their development; potential changes to the Housing Element Sites Inventory reported in the APR by April 1 of each year through 2031. 2) Pursue Housing Site Acquisition/Land Banking. On an opportunistic basis, purchase sites |
| 3-3) | As part of a long-term recovery response to COVID-19, support the acquisition of hotels and motels to be converted into housing units and made available for people experiencing homelessness at rents affordable to extremely lowincome households. Provide committed assistance ($7.2 million in Project Homekey funds) for this conversion, and ensure that these units meet the requirements of Government Code 65583.1(c) for hotel, motel, or hostel conversion. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Report on Housing Element; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide [Sub action deliverable/time]:Provide 22 units by 2023 within the “L&M” project discussed in Section 3. | Provide 22 units by 2023 within the “L&M” project discussed in Section 3. |
| 3-4) | In addition to promoting ADUs, provide information about SB 9 (2021), which allows property owners to split a single-family lot into two lots, and AB 917 (2022), which allows the conversion of existing living space to up to two bedrooms without a public hearing. The City will prepare and distribute informational brochures and update the City’s website on the permitting procedures, requirements, and support available by 2024. | Continuing, as documented in the Annual Report on Housing Element; implementation timing of subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide [Sub action deliverable/time]:New technical activity; as part of Housing Development Capacity Study identify parcels with potential for additional housing unit(s) and complete informational brochure and website information not later than the end of 2024. | New technical activity; as part of Housing Development Capacity Study identify parcels with potential for additional housing unit(s) and complete informational brochure and website information not later than the end of 2024. |
| 4-1) | While the existing inventory of housing sites has been shown to be adequate to meet the 6th Cycle RHNA requirements, the City is committed to expanding development capacity to meet current and future housing needs. A range of opportunities exist for expanding housing development potential even within the confines of the City’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
Conduct a ‘development capacity and opportunity study’ for the City that identifies existing housing development opportunities and visually demonstrates how zoning and other legislative and regulatory tools can unlock development opportunities. | Development Capacity Study, Code amendments completed during the 6th Cycle; rezoning and plans initiated during 6th Cycle; implementation timing of other subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide; specific plan geographies as identified, primarily within the western –021 block group [Sub action deliverable/time]:New technical activity; initiate and complete Housing Development Capacity Study by end of 2024. | The following actions are targeted to substantially expand the City’s housing development capacity during the 6th Cycle, allowing construction of housing units over and above RHNA, and consistent with the overall Quantified Objective of 970 units for New Construction..New technical activity; initiate and complete Housing Development Capacity Study by end of 2024. |
| 4-2) | There are a variety of opportunities to amend the City’s Land Use Code that can expand housing development capacity and reduce constraints, including increasing the maximum density of selected base zoning districts to 30 units (or more) per acre to better reflect the density needed for multifamily rental housing. While not required to meet the 6th Cycle RHNA, this effort can provide additional opportunities during this Planning Cycle and beyond. Strengthen ‘use-by-right' provisions of all zoning districts and limit use of conditional use permits; replacing them with ministerial objective design standards. Review and update parking requirements for all residential districts. Update the City’s Density Bonus Ordinance to conform to current State Density Bonus Law and provide additional local bonus provisions to incentivize moderate and middle-income housing projects. As an alternative to increasing maximum densities on selected parcels, create an workforce housing overlay zone or similar overlay district for areas suitable for higherdensity multifamily housing development. Review existing minimum density standards in residential districts and increase these minimums to assure better utilization of development capacity, particularly within higher-resource areas. Amend the City's Land Use Code to conform to current State development standards and approval procedures for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Amend the City’s Land Use Code to allow residential care facilities for 7 or more individuals by right, subject to only objective, transparent criteria so as not to constrain the opportunity of large households and households containing people with disabilities. Prepare and adopt a code amendment to allow low barrier navigation centers by-right where required and to amend the standards for homeless shelters for consistency with State law. As needed, amend parking requirements and management standards for emergency shelters pursuant to State law, including SB 2, AB 139, and Government Code 65583, subdivision (a)(4)(A). The City’s Land Use Code already allows transitional and supportive housing in the Single Family (R1) zoning district; however, the City will review and amend as needed to ensure consistency with State law. | Development Capacity Study, Code amendments completed during the 6th Cycle; rezoning and plans initiated during 6th Cycle; implementation timing of other subprograms noted above. Target: Citywide; specific plan geographies as identified, primarily within the western –021 block group [Sub action deliverable/time]:Amended regulation action; initiate code amendments by the end of 2023, and complete Development Code amendments by end of 2025. | Amended regulation action; initiate code amendments by the end of 2023, and complete Development Code amendments by end of 2025. |