Santa Rosa Housing Authority adopts HOTMA-related revisions to voucher administrative plan

The City of Santa Rosa Housing Authority on July 28, 2025, approved revisions to its Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan to incorporate HOTMA provisions that became mandatory July 1, 2025. Vice Chair Megan Downey moved the resolution; Commissioner Smith seconded. The motion passed with five ayes, one abstention and one absence.

Housing authority staff presented the changes and why the authority was adopting only part of the HOTMA (Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act of 2016) updates now. Annette Anthony, Housing Choice Voucher Manager, and Rebecca Lane, program specialist, told commissioners that many plan provisions are federally mandated but that full HOTMA implementation depends on HUD completing system upgrades that have not yet been finished.

Rebecca Lane said staff is recommending “revising the administrative plan to first remove the HOTMA provisions that cannot be implemented, add the changes that became effective July 1, and adopt and begin using the full version … when HUD completes the necessary system upgrades.” The presenters said the version adopted July 28 removes provisions not yet implementable by HUD systems and adds the specific mandatory changes that took effect July 1, 2025.

Commissioners asked procedural and policy questions about local preferences, waiting lists and how the administrative plan differs across jurisdictions. Staff said local housing authorities may set some policies — such as limited waiting-list preferences used previously for disaster survivors — but that most items in the administrative plan reflect federal requirements. Staff also reported that staffing changes at HUD and unfinished data-system upgrades are the primary reason the housing authority cannot yet deploy a fully HOTMA-compliant plan.

Public commenters urged the authority to add or restore preferences for specific groups. Duane DeWitt, a long-time housing advocate, urged preferential placement for homeless veterans and asked that more information about HUD VASH and project-based vouchers be included in future memoranda.

The roll-call vote on the resolution to waive reading of the text and approve the administrative plan revisions was recorded as: Vice Chair Downey — aye; Commissioner Smith — aye; Commissioner Friedman — abstain; Commissioner Conte — aye; Commissioner Capio — aye; Commissioner Owen — aye. Chair Newton was absent. The motion passed (5 ayes, 1 abstention, 1 absent). The staff memo and resolution specify that the plan provisions adopted are effective 07/01/2025; staff noted full HOTMA deployment remains contingent on HUD completing system upgrades.

Staff said they will return with any future administrative-plan updates as HUD issues further guidance or completes system changes.