Now, Buckelew is seeking to transfer that grant to Napa County — a move the Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on Tuesday. Without the transfer, the grant application warns, the 11 clients could face immediate displacement. However, Buckelew officials emphasized they do not plan to exit the program until the transition is complete.
What is Buckelew Programs?
Founded in 1970 and based in Novato, Buckelew Programs is a nonprofit that provides mental health and housing services across Northern California, including in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake and Mendocino.
The organization operates a range of programs, including supportive housing for people with serious mental illness, substance use recovery services, and a North Bay suicide prevention hotline.
In 2023, Buckelew reported $19.8 million in revenue and $17.6 million in expenses, according to nonprofit filings. Its funding comes from a mix of federal, state and county grants, as well as private donations.
County officials say the goal is to fold the program into Napa’s existing contract with Abode Services, the county’s primary homelessness services provider. HUD must also approve the transfer — a process that could take months. The final funding amount will depend on when that approval comes through.
HUD officials said they were reviewing a request for comment, but didn’t respond beyond that.
In the meantime, staff from Buckelew, the county and Abode are working to ensure uninterrupted care, according to officials. But the handoff marks a rare disruption in Napa’s supportive housing system — one that had long relied on Buckelew to stabilize some of its most vulnerable residents.
Buckelew’s retreat — and what it reveals
Founded in 1970 and based in Novato, Buckelew Programs still provides mental health and housing services across Sonoma, Marin, Lake and Mendocino counties. Its annual budget exceeded $19 million in 2023, according to organizational records.
But in Napa, its standing has eroded.
In his statement to The Press Democrat, Kughn said Buckelew’s decision to withdraw was driven by long-term financial strain — not the settlement alone. He cited five years of housing budget deficits, declining client referrals and internal costs the organization could no longer absorb.
“This is something that we just don’t have the funding to cover internally,” he said.
Still, the nonprofit’s most recent HUD grant application — for the permanent supportive housing program — reflected its declining position. Buckelew received a score of just 76, down from 87 in 2022 — the largest drop among local applications.
The scores are part of a competitive review by the county’s Continuum of Care, ranking local housing programs on objective criteria including grant performance, meeting attendance and policy compliance. Those rankings determine how federal dollars are distributed.
The lower score contributed to the steep funding cut. Buckelew had requested $337,406 for 2026 — the same amount it received in previous years — but was awarded just $121,146, a shortfall of more than $200,000.
Another factor: HUD awarded less money overall this year. Napa County’s Continuum of Care requested $1.23 million for 2026 but received just $934,699 — nearly $300,000 short. The reason for the reduced funding wasn’t publicly explained, but in past years, requests were typically fully funded.
While the reasons for Buckelew’s individual score drop weren’t publicly detailed, people familiar with the process said the organization lost points not for underspending, but for how effectively it used the funds. Under HUD rules, simply spending the full grant isn’t enough — programs must also deliver strong results and demonstrate cost-effectiveness.
Records show Buckelew’s lower score was directly tied to its reduced funding — further jeopardizing the program’s future.
James, who also serves on the local Continuum of Care board, said the housing discrimination case wasn’t considered in Buckelew’s 2024 review because the evaluation criteria were set well in advance.
She added that the settlement could have become a factor in future grant cycles — and that including it likely would have led to an even lower score.
What is fair housing law — and who enforces it?
Under federal and California law, landlords and housing providers may not discriminate against tenants based on disability, race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics. People with disabilities have the right to request reasonable accommodations— including the use of emotional support animals.
Complaints can be filed with:
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- The California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
In this case, the complaint was filed by Fair Housing Napa Valley, a nonprofit that investigates housing discrimination. It led to a public settlement, financial payout and required training for Buckelew and the landlord — a rare combination of formal accountability in a system where complaints are often resolved quietly.
A broader reckoning
The man at the center of the complaint has not spoken publicly. But his story — a quiet act of legal advocacy — offers a rare moment of accountability in a housing system that too often fails the people who need it most.
In 2023 alone, the California Civil Rights Department issued 758 compliance notices to correct violations of the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act across the state, including 374 related to fair housing.
Now, his case is shifting who carries that responsibility in Napa County. The very apartment complex where he was once denied — 1443 Division St. — is one of two properties the city of Napa now aims to buy using state funds, with plans to convert them into permanent supportive housing for people exiting homelessness.
For residents in other counties still served by Buckelew — where similar programs operate under similar contracts — the case in Napa raises a difficult question:
What happens when the agency meant to catch those slipping through the cracks becomes the reason they fall?
You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or edward.booth@pressdemocrat.com.
