SANTA ROSA, CA (March 30, 2018) – 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.
About Sonoma County Vintners Foundation
The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation provides support to our local community through philanthropy and charitable giving. Our fundraising efforts have a direct impact in the areas of literacy, education, health and human services, the environment and arts and culture. Our signature fundraising event, Sonoma County Wine Auction, has been recognized as one of Wine Spectator’s Top Charity Wine Auctions in the United States. Learn more at sonomawine.com/foundation.
About Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Hamel/Fogerty Fund
Hamel Family Wines, under the auspices of the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation, hosted a Wildfire Relief Benefit on Veterans Day (November 11, 2017) with a performance by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and legendary performer John Fogerty, who is himself a veteran. With Fogerty donating his and his band’s performance, the benefit raised $1.2 million to provide relief to those most impacted by the fire with a special goal of helping those who were displaced, the un-and-under-insured and the undocumented.
About Homes for Sonoma
Homes for Sonoma is a community-based approach to disaster housing. The goal is to create temporary housing that also addresses long term housing problems. The neighborhoods are designed to create safe, accessible and sustainable housing for those displaced by the fires and provide a better option than traditional emergency housing. This will help families stay in Sonoma County communities, which in turn will stabilize enrollments in schools, keep the local workforce intact, and maintain the vibrancy and diversity of the region. After the recovery, Homes for Sonoma cottages will remain a part of the community and help address the region’s long term need for temporary housing. Learn more at homesforsonoma.org.
