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Residents urge council not to cut master-lease housing funds, warn of immediate harm
Summary
More than a dozen residents and program participants told the Rohnert Park City Council that proposed cuts to the master-lease and related homelessness programs would immediately put people back on the street and worsen mental‑health crises, urging gradual reductions or alternative funding plans.
Dozens of residents pleaded with the Rohnert Park City Council during public comment to preserve funding for the city's master‑lease housing program and other homelessness services. Michael Turner, a current program participant, said the proposed $800,000 reduction would “destroy people” and return them to the streets, while other speakers described an atmosphere of panic after receiving notices that funding had been cut.
The callers pressed the council to avoid abrupt terminations and to phase reductions so participants could be rehoused or transitioned without losing permanent stability. Paula Brown, a longtime advocate, told council members the city should "reduce it gradually" rather than abruptly discontinuing services, saying participants are “panicking” and may face homelessness again without careful planning.
Why it matters: Speakers said the master‑lease program and shared‑housing contracts are central to recent gains for people experiencing homelessness in Rohnert Park. Jonathan Hill and others described distress and relapse among residents who received letters indicating funding was already curtailed; advocates said the loss of case management and mental‑health services at sites such as Lebath Landing would leave residents vulnerable.
Council response and next steps: Council members heard requests for an added budget discussion focused on citywide flooding and homelessness funding. The council later agreed on regional advocacy items for a May 22 meeting of mayors — including a regional strategy on homelessness and a request for greater county funding accountability — but did not make an immediate change to contract funding during the meeting. Several council members asked staff to follow up on the community’s concerns during upcoming budget deliberations.
What speakers said (representative): “You just can’t put people back out on the streets,” Michael Turner said, calling for the council to reconsider cuts. Paula Brown urged that the city “slowly, responsibly reduce the funding” so current participants are not harmed.
Background detail: Public commenters noted that county and state funding for homeless services — including NoA allocations — have dropped, and that some programs were reduced across the county. Speakers urged the city to pursue alternative county or state funding and to coordinate regionally, a request the council endorsed later in its agenda priorities.
The council did not adopt an immediate funding reversal at the meeting; members asked city staff to include homelessness funding and related priorities in upcoming budget discussions and directed the mayor to raise homelessness and funding-accountability issues with county leaders at the May 22 regional meeting.
