A former Santa Rosa motel is now fully converted into 104 rooms of permanent housing for veterans and the homeless. Completion of the project will be celebrated on June 11 by Supervisor Shirlee Zane, Catholic Charities, Akash Kalia, owner of the Palms Inn, and Congressman Mike Thompson
The Palms Inn provides housing for up to 208 veterans and vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness, with an on-site meeting room for services provided through Sonoma County Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), Catholic Charities, and the Veterans Administration of Sonoma County. The project has converted 104 existing hotel rooms to efficiency dwelling units within a large single room occupancy facility on an approximately 6.3-acre site.
“This amazing effort will increase the health and safety of an extremely vulnerable segment of the Sonoma County population,” said Third District Supervisor Shirlee Zane. “By providing housing and increased access to services for up to 208 veterans and vulnerable persons currently experiencing homelessness we are improving and saving lives.”
Securing and retaining housing in Sonoma County is an ongoing initiative outlined in the Sonoma County General Plan 2020 Housing Element, Zane said. Sonoma County has prioritized the creation of additional housing, including through innovative policies to encourage the conversion of existing motels to single room occupancy facilities and allow homeless shelters and similar housing models in most zoning districts.
The hotel’s existing management facilities will be used as offices for service providers such as the Veterans Administration and Catholic Charities to provide essential services and case management to residents.
The project’s core service providers, the Veterans Administration and Catholic Charities, have worked for more than a year to engage necessary resources and develop the comprehensive proposal required to bring the project forward.
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