Santa Rosa Housing Authority adopts FY 2025–26 budget, names NOFA ad hoc committee and authorizes litigation

The City of Santa Rosa Housing Authority on June 23 adopted its proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget, approved procedures for the upcoming Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and appointed an ad hoc panel to review NOFA applications. The authority also voted to allow Vice Chair Downey to participate remotely and, in closed session, authorized legal counsel to initiate litigation by a 5–1 vote (Commissioner Owen dissenting; Chair Newton absent).

Rebecca Lane, a program specialist with the Department of Housing and Community Services, led a study session on priorities for the fiscal year 2025–26 NOFA. Lane recommended maintaining a scoring preference for rehabilitation of existing affordable housing and adding negative points where developers fail to execute loan agreements by funder deadlines, citing rising time pressures from funding sources. "Funds are not as readily available for rehabilitation projects as for new construction," Lane said, urging a continued priority for rehab projects.

TheNOFA packet staff indicated approximately $3,566,548 would be available for the NOFA, composed of federal, state and local sources; Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding was reported as a little over $1…