Sonoma County to host second job and resource fair for homeless November 16 in Petaluma

Sonoma County will host its second-ever job and resource fair for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless on November 16 at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd.

The job and resource fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature more than 30 local employers and service providers offering support with housing and other resources, including a drop-in resume clinic and free lunch. The event is a collaborative effort between Sonoma County Job Link and more than a dozen community organizations. 

“This free event is an excellent opportunity for people who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to connect with resources that can change their lives,” said District 2 Supervisor David Rabbitt, who represents the Petaluma area.

Thanks to a Community Development Block Grant and several generous donors, participants will receive a free hot meal from Sonoma Family Meals and up to 150 $25 gift cards. Hourly raffles will include bike prizes and free clothing vouchers from Goodwill.

“We had an incredibly successful event in Santa Rosa last March, which served more than 350 people who were unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless,” said Antonio Vigil, a supervisor with Sonoma County Job Link. “Many of them found jobs or went into job training programs. We are now building on that success to stage our first regional event in south Sonoma County. The Petaluma event will bring together what we know is needed to help people work toward employment, key resources like Social Security, food, medical and mental health support — what we call wraparound services.” 

Andrea Krout, district director for Supervisor David Rabbitt, and Petaluma Mayor Kevin McDonnell are scheduled to speak at the event. The job and resource fair is produced by Sonoma County Job Link, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Committee on the Shelterless, Department of Rehabilitation, Goodwill Redwood Empire, HomeFirst Sonoma County, Homeless Outreach Team Victim Services, Interfaith Shelter Network, Micah’s Hugs, Nation’s Finest, Petaluma Family Resource Center, SHARE Sonoma County, Sonoma Applied Village Services, SonomaWORKS, and Community Support Network. Each of these agencies will be providing on-site service connections at the fair. 

Pre-registration is not required. For more information, e-mail joblink@schsd.org.

“At Job Link, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential and live with dignity and respect,” said Katie Greaves, director of the Employment and Training Division in the Human Services Department. “This event will provide resources and potential pathways to employment, a core building block to stable income and ultimately housing. We value our partnerships with local employers and community organizations as we work together to break down barriers to employment.”

The county’s annual point-in-time count identified 2,266 people experiencing homelessness in Sonoma County last year, a 22 percent decline from the 2,893 individuals counted in 2022. 

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Media Contact: 
Kristen Font, Communications Specialist
Department of Human Services 
kfont@schsd.org
(707) 565-8085