Dear Chair and Members of the Board:

I am writing about the proposed purchase of the five-unit apartment property at 1155 South Dora Street in Ukiah.

I support helping people experiencing homelessness find stable housing. What concerns me is that this proposal involves buying a building where people already live, turning four apartments into transitional housing, and using the fifth as a clubhouse. Before approving it, the Board needs to explain what will happen to the existing tenants and what this project will actually cost.

My understanding is that all five apartments are occupied. The real estate photos show cribs and toys, which suggests that some of these households include children. These apartments are not sitting empty. They are people’s homes.

Where will those five families go when the property is converted? Finding another rental in Ukiah is difficult, and finding one a family can afford is harder still. Will the County make sure each household has comparable, affordable housing before anyone has to leave? Who will cover moving expenses, deposits, and any increase in rent?

It seems counterproductive to displace five families to create four temporary housing units and a clubhouse. A project meant to address homelessness should not put people who already have homes at risk of losing that stability.

I also do not understand why one apartment needs to become a clubhouse. Has the County looked at using an existing County building or community facility for those activities? Taking an apartment out of residential use deserves a better explanation, especially when that apartment is currently someone’s home.

The $750,000 purchase price is only part of the expense. The presentation does not show the full cost of renovations, staffing, maintenance, utilities, insurance, property management, relocation, and ongoing services. Listing possible funding sources does not tell the public how much funding is actually secured or what happens when it runs out.

Before moving forward, I would like the Board to provide clear answers to these questions:

• What will happen to each of the five existing households, and what is the plan and budget for relocating them?

• How many people will live in the transitional apartments at one time, who will qualify, and how long are they expected to stay?

• What will the entire project cost, both upfront and each year after that? Is there a chance the General Fund would eventually be responsible for any of those costs?

• Where will participants go when their transitional housing ends, and how many are expected to move into permanent housing each year?

• What other options were considered, including vacant properties, leasing, or using existing space for the clubhouse and staff?
Four transitional apartments may help some people. But the Board also needs to account for the five families being displaced, the apartment being taken out of housing use, and the ongoing cost to operate the program.

I ask the Board to defer approval until these questions are answered publicly. The County should be able to show that this purchase is a responsible use of funds and that helping future participants will not come at the expense of the families already living there.

Thank you for your consideration.