Sonoma Supervisors Approve Expansion of Mental Health and Homelessness Services

New county health center in Sonoma Valley to provide critical support for residents

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting in the city of Sonoma to hear suggestions from District 1 residents as part of the county's goal-setting efforts for 2026. Among the key priorities identified were expanded mental health and homelessness services, which the board approved by unanimously voting to establish a new county health service center in Sonoma Valley.

Why it matters

The new health center will improve access to critical mental health and homelessness support services in the Sonoma Valley, which has been an underserved area for these vital resources. This is a significant step in addressing the growing needs of the community and aligns with the county's strategic plan to focus on healthy and safe communities.

The details

The 1,413-square-foot office will serve as a hub for several key Department of Health Services programs, including the Behavioral Health Division, Youth and Family Services, the Crisis Assessment Prevention & Education Team, the Mobile Support Team, and Homeless Services Division staff for navigation and outreach. The facility is expected to open in May or June and will be financed using existing Mental Health Services Act funds and revenue from Measure O, the countywide tax measure for Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services.

  • The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors held its 2026 Goal Setting Session on February 3, 2026.
  • The new county health service center is expected to open in May or June 2026.

The players

Rebecca Hermosillo

Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and representative of District 1.

Nolan Sullivan

Director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Angela Ryan

Executive director of the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, a nonprofit in partnership with Community Foundation Sonoma County.

Kathy Pons

President of Valley of the Moon Alliance, a Sonoma-based nonprofit focused on protecting natural resources and quality of life in the Valley.

Ron Wellander

Mayor of Sonoma.

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What they’re saying

“We are very pleased to continue our successful collaboration with the board, continuing to make Sonoma County special.”

— Ron Wellander, Mayor of Sonoma

“Over the next couple of months we'll be expanding homeless services and behavioral health. So we'll have six employees full-time at the Lomita campus to assist with the behavioral health needs for medical patients here in the valley, as well as to partner with some wonderful nonprofits on the homeless space, really bringing more county services to this part of the county and valley.”

— Nolan Sullivan, Director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services

“For the last three years, the Catalyst Fund has been leading a community response to food security, which we feel is really addressable on the local level. That's why, three years ago, we funded a study that found that one in five residents here in Sonoma Valley experiences food insecurity.”

— Angela Ryan, Executive director of the Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund

What’s next

The draft environmental impact report for the Sonoma Developmental Center redevelopment project is expected in June 2026, with a board hearing tentatively scheduled for September 2026.

The takeaway

This expansion of mental health and homelessness services in Sonoma Valley is a significant step in addressing the growing needs of the community and aligns with the county's strategic plan to focus on healthy and safe communities. The new county health center will provide critical support and resources to residents, demonstrating the county's commitment to improving access to essential services in underserved areas.