Sonoma County Affordable Housing Crisis

Who can afford to live in Sonoma County?

I would guess that we all know someone, if not ten people, who are struggling to live here. Sonoma County is my home and it has been for 25 years. My mom went to the same elementary school as me, my grandparents bought their forever home for $70,000 in west Sebastopol and it’s where I always imagined myself raising a family. Unfortunately, that dream of mine is becoming dimmer each time my rent increases.

I am so grateful to have been raised in such a beautiful county and I’ve always taken pride in describing Sonoma County as inclusive and community driven. The more I think about it though, how can I say we are a county of inclusiveness and equality when not everyone is able to afford to live here? I’ve had plenty of friends who have had to pack up their things and move away from their home because they can’t afford to live here anymore and I see myself having to make that difficult choice soon as well.

If we continue to be forced out of our own county, then who will be left?