Leftover UGB campaign funds donated to city housing trust

The city’s Housing Trust Fund is to receive a donation from a citizen’s group that supported a measure that some said would prohibit more housing from being built in Sonoma.

The Citizens to Renew the City of Sonoma’s Urban Growth Boundary will donate some $500, which is the money that remained in the group’s campaign fund to help pass Measure W, to the City of Sonoma’s Housing Trust Fund.

Measure W officials say there will possibly be more funds once the campaign books are fully closed.

“Everyone who worked to renew the UGB strongly supports affordable housing and keeping people in their homes,” said Jack Ding, treasurer of the Citizens to Renew the UGB campaign, and city councilmember-elect in a press release. “The donation is a sign of our commitment to making our city more affordable.”

The group is also appealing to the general public to make donations to the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

“We encourage other community members and groups to join us in donating to the city’s Housing Trust Fund to build-up urgently needed revenues going forward,” said Johanna Patri, a member of the UGB citizens campaign team. “We all know that funding is the biggest hurdle to building more affordable homes in our town.”

Measure W, which passed with 78 percent of the vote, was opposed by some who said a 20-year renewal of the UGB was an obstacle to affordable housing.

Established by the city in May, 2019, the Housing Trust Fund was created to provide incentives that would encourage development of affordable housing. In May, 2020, the city council agreed to apportion some of that fund to help low-income residents meet their financial obligations of rent and utility payments during the coronavirus pandemic.

The city partners with Friends in Sonoma Helping to process applications and distribute funds to those who qualify for financial assistance.

“We hope that the community will join us in making contributions to build up the fund for affordable housing in our city,” said Teri Shore, of the Greenbelt Alliance, who led the Citizens to Renew campaign.

Donations to the fund can be sent to the City of Sonoma Housing Trust Fund, City of Sonoma, No. 1 The Plaza, Sonoma CA 95476. For more information regarding the Housing Trust Fund, or call City Hall at 938-3681.

Contact Anne at anne.ernst@sonomanews.com.