Lake County board votes to begin voluntary transfer of local housing authority to regional agency

The Lake County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission, voted 4-0 March 25 to direct staff to begin the application process to transfer the Lake County Housing Commission (LCHC) to the Regional Housing Authority (RHA) that serves Sutter, Yuba, Colusa and Nevada counties, with an effective target date of Jan. 1, 2026.

Social services director and LCHC executive director Rachel Dolman Parsons summarized the recommendation, saying the county’s housing office is “small and we don't have a lot of staff, nor a lot of funding.” She told the board the county operates three voucher programs — Housing Choice Vouchers, VASH for veterans and a small number of emergency housing vouchers — and that administrative funding limits and staff capacity constrain the agency’s ability to grow services or pursue property development.

The recommendation to transfer operations to the RHA, Parsons said, would allow Lake County to take advantage of the regional agency’s staff expertise, development experience and programs such as a family self-sufficiency program and project-based vouchers. “They are able to operate project based vouchers, which would bring more housing to Lake County through property development,” Parsons said.

Gus Becerra, executive director of the Regional Housing Authority, described RHA’s experience regionalizing housing operations and said RHA runs development projects and a family self-sufficiency program that helped some participants accumulate escrow for home purchases. RHA officials emphasized they typically keep project-based vouchers and developments local and that the agency partners on development and often participates in ownership structures for affordable housing projects.

Board members asked about protections to ensure Lake County vouchers and development benefits remain in the county and how governance seats on the RHA would be allocated. RHA representatives said each jurisdiction typically has two seats on the RHA board (some places, like Colusa, elect one) and said seats can be configured through the joint powers agreement and bylaws. Board members also pressed on how existing county administrative staff and the county-funded position would be handled; Parsons said the county general fund contribution for one position would return to the county if the transfer proceeds.

After public comment and questions from supervisors, a motion directing staff to begin the voluntary transfer to the Regional Housing Authority was made and seconded; the board approved it 4-0. The board also asked staff to work with RHA and HUD on the transfer application and on details about representation and ensuring vouchers serve Lake County residents.

What happens next: staff will begin the HUD application and negotiation process with RHA and return to the board with specifics, including any recommended amendments to agreements, timelines and governance arrangements.

Votes at a glance: The board, sitting as the Housing Commission, approved the motion to direct staff to start the voluntary transfer application effective Jan. 1, 2026 (vote: 4-0).