Greetings supporters of alternative housing,

We are sending this update to let you know that public comment is about to open to speak in support of alternative housing. 

If you are able to speak in support of protecting people living in alternative housing, you can join the meeting here: https://sonomacounty.zoom.us/j/96898216677?pwd=MmNwTFhRWnVlNHVvZmUzQVVKSmJCUT09

We may finally be on the verge of a breakthrough in curbing Permit Sonoma’s senseless evictions of 200 people living safely in trailers, tiny homes, and other simple and affordable housing every year, but we need everyone who is able to speak during public comment.

Here are a few talking points that may be helpful: 

• I object that my government uses my tax dollars and legal authority to enforce a dysfunctional, inhumane code enforcement system that pushes 200 safely housed low income renters, many of them seniors, to become homeless for their own “health and safety.” Homeless living is NOT safe living! 
• 
  Please pass an urgency ordinance today to protect people living safely and happily in RV’s and tiny homes.  
• 
  This ordinance can be modeled on the temporary housing ordinances that allow fire victims, caregivers, and farmworkers to live in travel trailers and RV’s on private property.
• 
  Extend Appendices O and X of the California Residential and Building Codes to private property so that people can live in alternative housing during this ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.
• 
  If supervisors choose to allow Permit Sonoma’s eviction war on the poor to continue,  you are likely to waste millions of our tax dollars fighting a federal housing rights lawsuit defending a shameful policy that I do not support. During this housing emergency, why would you choose to do this instead of protecting low income renters?
• Please implement and model a positive solution, not the powerless perpetuation of a dysfunctional, inhumane system that doesn't reflect our values. After passing an urgency ordinance to protect people today, the county needs to begin the challenging work of making sure that these same homes are legalized on a permanent, non-emergency basis.