Healdsburg Explores Community-Led Housing Land Trust

New nonprofit model aims to build more affordable homes in the city.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Healdsburg, California is considering establishing a community-led housing land trust, a nonprofit organization that would buy and develop properties for affordable housing. The trust would have more flexibility than the city's housing department and could seek philanthropic funding. Proponents see it as a way to address the city's long-standing affordable housing shortage, especially for middle-income residents.

Why it matters

Housing affordability is a major challenge in Healdsburg, as in many California cities. A housing land trust could provide an innovative model to create more diverse and accessible housing options, helping the city meet its state-mandated housing construction targets.

The details

The proposed Healdsburg Housing Trust would operate similarly to a land conservancy, purchasing properties to develop into affordable homes. It could tap into philanthropic and public grant funding sources that may not be available to the city directly. The trust would focus on creating mid-range housing between low-income units and high-end market-rate projects. Supporters see it as a way to maintain Healdsburg's diverse community identity.

  • In 2005, hundreds of Healdsburg residents called for more affordable housing at a community event.
  • On March 2, 2026, the Healdsburg City Council discussed the proposed housing trust.
  • The housing trust is still in early formation stages, with organizers seeking startup funding before formal actions.

The players

Stephen Sotomayor

Healdsburg's housing director, who discussed the proposed housing trust at a city council meeting.

Richard Burg

A Healdsburg resident working to establish the housing trust.

Joe Naujokas

A former Healdsburg city council member helping to form the housing trust, who sees accessible housing as core to the city's community identity.

CLAM

The Community Land Trust Association of West Marin, which has worked to build temporary housing for farm workers evicted from the Point Reyes National Seashore.

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What they’re saying

“Nonprofit trusts have a little more flexibility than what a typical city housing department has.”

— Stephen Sotomayor, Healdsburg housing director (norcalpublicmedia.org)

“So, 21 years ago, several hundred people at an event in the plaza called Town Picnic and Concert, answered a question on poster paper. What single change would most improve the quality of your life in Healdsburg? The answer was affordable housing, and that was in 2005.”

— Richard Burg, Healdsburg resident (norcalpublicmedia.org)

“On that one block, you have multi-million dollar homes literally within stone's throw of small apartment block buildings. Everybody's getting along fine. We are we are living together, we are sharing these experiences. We're neighbors. That to me is what Healdsburg is all about. We cannot sustain that community identity without nurturing that diverse housing.”

— Joe Naujokas, Former Healdsburg city council member (norcalpublicmedia.org)

What’s next

The proposed Healdsburg Housing Trust is still in early formation stages, with organizers seeking startup funding before bringing formal actions to the city.

The takeaway

A community-led housing land trust could provide Healdsburg with a flexible, innovative tool to create more affordable and diverse housing options, helping the city address its longstanding affordability challenges and maintain its vibrant community identity.