SANTA ROSA, Calif. — The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation has announced a pledge of $600,000 from its Hamel/Fogerty Fund towards the development of an affordable community of modular cottages. Marking a significant step in creating new affordable housing for individuals and families displaced by last fall’s wildfires, Homes for Sonoma is pleased to receive this major lead gift.
“Access to housing is critical for our community to recover and thrive,” said George Hamel, Jr. of Hamel Family Wines on behalf of the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. “We’re proud to support this innovative project to build much-needed affordable homes in our area for those who were displaced by the fires.”
A volunteer-led effort, Homes for Sonoma is collaborating with architects, local business and governing offices to design and build neighborhoods of compact cottages, complete with outdoor communal areas, a soccer field and shared garden, for those in desperate need of affordable housing. Homes for Sonoma is working with the City of Santa Rosa and the City of Windsor for the first initial neighborhoods.
“This generous gift provides a solid foundation for our planned community, and we are grateful to the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation and Pamela and George Hamel for their support,” said Aaron Jobson, architect and executive committee member, Homes for Sonoma. “Even before the fires, Sonoma County was a tight housing market. Our vision for modular homes not only meets the immediate housing needs of those impacted, but can also be part of a long-term solution.”
Each of the high-quality, cost-effective homes will be constructed with fabricated components which can be crafted offsite and easily assembled at a home site. This allows for speed of construction while mitigating the challenge of limited natural resources and building materials across Sonoma County. Each cottage can also be disassembled and relocated as housing needs shift.
Other Homes for Sonoma donors include the North Bay Fire Relief and the International Interior Design Association. The organization’s goal is to raise $4 million, which will fund 40 cottages.
—Sonoma County Vintners Foundation
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