Housing Assistance

Sonoma State University is committed to recruiting high quality faculty and staff and understands the challenges encountered in relocating and finding affordable housing. SSU and the CSU System are currently researching housing assistance strategies and exploring options to assist you in your search for a new home.

This information is intended as a convenient starting point for learning about local housing; it is not all inclusive and does not constitute an endorsement of any business or service mentioned.

Temporary Housing

Short-term temporary housing is available at some of the motels located within 3 miles of SSU in Rohnert Park. Our Off-Campus Housing department maintains a listing of local motels and their rates.

Sonoma County Site Index also has a listing of lodging options in Sonoma County.

Rental Housing

Sonoma State University owns ten townhouses within a 10 minute walk from the center of campus. The townhouses are intended for newly hired tenure-track faculty, to help them transition into the local community. Each townhouse is approximately 1300 sq. ft. with three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a double car garage. Downstairs there is a nice living room with fireplace, sliding glass door to the enclosed landscaped back yard patio, a half-bath, and a kitchen and dining area. The kitchen has a built-in gas range, dishwasher, refrigerator and garbage disposal. Upstairs are three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The master bedroom has a full bath and large walk-in closet. The townhouses have window coverings, forced air heating, carpeting, phone & TV cable jacks. There are hook-ups in the garage for washer and gas or electric dryer. The townhouses are a good value in Sonoma County and are available for a one-year lease at $1,300 per month.

If the university townhouse is not an option for you, the best starting place for housing rental information is the classified ads section of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. This newspaper has listings for unfurnished apartments, houses, condos, and share rentals for all Sonoma County.

The Sonoma State University Off-Campus Housing department also maintains a listing of local rental units. http://www.ssu.och101.com

You can also register with some service providers who can help you find the right rental property. Take a look at www.rentsearch.com/sonomacoca.html.

Other sources of rental housing information would be rental agencies listed either in the telephone book yellow pages or the Press Democrat. Some real estate agents also manage rental property. Alliance Property Management provides a current listing of available rentals in Sonoma County. For a listing of local property management companies, click here.

The Rental Housing Wish List is a helpful tool to have when shopping for rental housing.

Relocation Service

Sonoma State University contracts with several companies who offer relocation services. Brochures detailing these services are sent to each new faculty member who has been given an allocation for moving expenses.

It is becoming a more common practice for large realty companies to offer a relocation package deal for clients. Service can include selling your old home and helping you find a new one, moving, insurance, financing, and tax advice. The convenience of a comprehensive relocation package makes it an attractive alternative. You should know exactly what you are getting and what, if anything, you are paying if you opt for a relocation service. RPS (Resources for People on the Move) provides relocation services. Find out more at http://www.rpsrelocation.com/.

Purchasing A Home

Again, a good source for finding a home in Sonoma County is the Press Democrat newspaper. Not only can you browse the classified listings, but they provide a search engine which allows you to input search criteria and they notify you when there's a match. They also provide links to other local real estate guides.

This Home Buyers Wish List is a helpful tool for those looking to buy a home.

Homeownership Assistance:  California

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains a listing of statewide and regional housing assistance programs. The link belows focuses on home ownership resources, but you'll also find links to many more resources pertaining to housing.

Helpful Links

Homestore.com Lists local rental properties but also includes information about self-storage, temporary housing, vacation rentals & moving resources. The website has information on handicap units.

Sabbatical Home Exchange "Helping academic communities around the world find or list houses or apartments for rent, exchange or house-sit when on sabbatical leave, research trip, exchange program, relocation or vacations" ...

Nolo Press A great resource for housing legal information and pubications, as well as many other sources for self-help legal aid.

California Department of Consumer Affairs Become an informed renter! This site includes various publications outlining your rights as a renter.

Fair Housing of Sonoma County Provides a full range of free services around both tenant-landlord law and housing discrimination. Contact them for their free "Handbook for Landlords and Tenants".