Napa County OKs more farmworker-housing funds

Heavily dependent on migrant labor, Napa winemakers continue to overwhelmingly support a uniquely funded, low-cost farm worker housing program.

Napa’s three low-cost dormitory-like centers are funded by an assessment on vineyard property and by occupants’ rent.

It is the only county in California that provides farmworker housing in this fashion, said Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos.

In June, the county received an additional $250,000 in state funding for the housing program. Although it was a one-time allotment, a bill is currently before the legislature to make the funding annual.

By law, the vineyard assessment must be renewed every five years, and Napa County grapegrowers voted overwhelmingly on July 11 in favor of extending the annual assessment on vineyards, and to gradually raise the rate from $10 to $15 per acre over the coming years, to help defray the cost of housing for the county’s farm workers.

The approval for the increase still needs to be signed off by the governor.

The measure garnered 84 percent approval from 1,251 affected county property owners, as ballots were counted during a board of supervisors meeting. It was largest approval vote that Ramos said she could remember.

“It’s a reflection of the housing challenge. For the folks staying at our centers, there is no other place to stay,” wrote Alfredo Pedroza, supervisor, on Twitter.

The program was started in 2002, after the state legislature authorized the county to form a County Service Area, or vineyard tax, to raise funds for the purpose of farm-worker housing.

It was a response to a situation where workers were living in substandard conditions in river beds, cars, and garages, according to Rex Stults, government relations director at the Napa Valley Vintners.

“We were challenged by advocates in the community to do more,” he said.

The cost to operate the centers is a little over $1 million a year. About half of the money comes from the annual assessment on vineyards and the other half by the rent paid by each occupant.

The county farmworker housing program provides seasonal affordable housing for 180 migrant workers at three centers in the county. Residents get three meals a day, literacy and other training programs for just $23 per day total cost and rental cost of $14 per day. It’s dormitory-style housing with two people per room, a laundry area and gardens.

The centers are each opened for 11 months out of the year and are staggered so there are at least two always open.

Last year, the centers provided more than 50,000 overnight stays for farmworkers.

Stults said the county is proud of the innovative program.

“It’s not the Ritz, but it’s clean, comfortable housing, Stults said.

Other counties, like Sonoma, put the focus more on private housing for farmworkers. The Ortiz Family Plaza, in Santa Rosa, completed ta 30-unit development this year with rents capped at 30 percent of farmworker families’ incomes.

Also, a recent survey from the Sonoma County Grapegrowers found that 29 percent of the grape growing community offers housing to their Ag employees, which amounts to about 950 beds. These include bunk houses, granny units and homes, that house single men to families, said Karissa Kruse, president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers.

The survey also found the need for about 1,500 more beds. That led to a collaboration between four grape growers and one winery to work with engineers on plans for about 200 more bed units in the form of bunk houses to be built over the next year. The plans will sit at the county permitting office, expediting the process for any Ag employer to build on their property.

Cynthia Sweeney covers health care, hospitality, residential real estate, education, employment and business insurance. Reach her at Cynthia.Sweeney@busjrnl.com or call 707-521-4259.