Sonoma County eyes Sebastopol Inn as potential homeless housing

[Barry]

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Sonoma County eyes Sebastopol Inn as potential homeless housing
(https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-eyes-sebastopol-inn-as-potential-homeless-housing/)TYLER SILVY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
August 4, 2020, 6:36AM

49959Sonoma County housing officials are negotiating to buy the Sebastopol Inn, eyeing the 31-room boutique hotel near the heart Sebastopol’s downtown as a landing spot for vulnerable homeless residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move opens a new front in the county’s battle against homelessness, and would expand county control over more commercial real estate as it struggles to contain a deadly disease and combat one of its most intractable socioeconomic problems.

Located along a key west county gateway, the Sebastopol Inn is one of just two hotels in Sebastopol, according to city officials. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents the area, said it was the inn’s owner who got the county’s attention with an offer to sell.

Supervisors will hear more about the potential purchase in a closed session during the board’s Tuesday meeting. Terms of the tentative deal were not disclosed by the county. A message left Monday with a hotel representative was not returned.

Hopkins, who has long cited the lower Russian River’s status as leading the county in per capita homelessness, embraced the Sebastapol Inn proposal, offering a stronger immediate endorsement of new homeless services than often accompanies such proposals.

“I absolutely welcome this,” she said.

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(https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-eyes-sebastopol-inn-as-potential-homeless-housing/)

[tommy]

This is a good idea! No doubt some will oppose it. If you understand the underlying causes of homelessness... it's basically lack of housing ... especially in California. Building codes are complex, environmental laws forbidding, most govt officials (excl Linda Hopkins) afraid to support any new housing that has opposition, nimby in every direction... the result? Homelessness!

I believe CA has more homeless than any other state, due to our size, and temperate climate. This project would be managed with resident & application standards. There is funding from the state for acquisition. At some point, we have to face the shortage of housing, and allow some more of it in our community.


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Sonoma County eyes Sebastopol Inn as potential homeless housing (https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-eyes-sebastopol-inn-as-potential-homeless-housing/)

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[gypsey]

There are pros and cons to this opportunity. The Inn is located in a mini-mall with other small businesses and across from the Barlow, a revenue generating tourist attraction with all that that entails.. So the effects need to be thought through on local businesses but also on the potential residents. Homeless people come from all walks of life, ages, needs and life skills, and I am sure that while some would be vulnerable and not do well in this environment, others could thrive. Last but not least, the Inn has only 31 rooms. That's it!. All food for thought--and hopefully issues the "powers that be" are really thinking through. I look forward to more details.


This is a good idea! No doubt some will oppose it. If you understand the underlying causes of homelessness... it's basically lack of housing ... especially in California. Building codes are complex, environmental laws forbidding, most govt officials (excl Linda Hopkins) afraid to support any new housing that has opposition, nimby in every direction... the result? Homelessness!

I believe CA has more homeless than any other state, due to our size, and temperate climate. This project would be managed with resident & application standards. There is funding from the state for acquisition. At some point, we have to face the shortage of housing, and allow some more of it in our community.