The City of Sonoma owns an emergency homeless shelter, formerly known as The Haven, located at 151 First Street West. The City currently contracts with a service provider, FSGlobal, to operate the facility as an Emergency Warming Center. While north of the Plaza in the city limits of the City of Sonoma, the Emergency Homeless Shelter serves the entire Sonoma Valley.
Background and History:
The City of Sonoma implemented an emergency shelter program in 2005 with the support of Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS). In 2005, the City applied for a use permit for the Haven at 151 First Street West, also known as the Haven, owned by the City of Sonoma. In October 2005, the Planning Commission granted a use permit to the City, which was in effect then. In December 2005, the Community Development Agency of the City of Sonoma contracted with SOS to provide management services for an emergency shelter program.
In 2014, as part of its housing element update that required the City to zone property for emergency shelters, the City designated the site of the Haven as a location where an emergency shelter may be operated by right and without a permit.
Various circumstances eventually led SOS to cease operating the Haven as an overnight shelter but the organization continued to offer day services to unhoused community members at the site.
In November 2023, Sonoma City Council adopted an operational policy for the opening of an Emergency Warming Center at the Emergency Homeless Shelter during extreme weather events, which terminated the agreement with SOS and converted the Haven back into an Emergency Shelter.
The City issued a request for proposals to operate the Emergency Warming Center and selected FSGlobal on December 21, 2023. This effort is designed to establish a nighttime low-barrier shelter, specifically catering to individuals experiencing homelessness during severe weather conditions.