Project Homekey Update

Marin County is applying for a second round of Project Homekey funding. Homekey is a statewide program which provides funding to purchase and renovate existing buildings for permanent supportive housing, especially during the COVID-19 shelter in place order. During round one, Marin was able to purchase two buildings for this purpose—one in Corte Madera, and one in San Rafael–providing 63 new units of housing. Marin has identified a vacant skilled nursing facility at 1251 South Eliseo Drive in Larkspur/Greenbrae for a potential round two project. If Marin is funded, this site could provide another 43 units of permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless.

At an October Board of Supervisors meeting, advocates rallied in support of applying for the funding and granting pre-development funds to Episcopal Community Services, the development sponsor for this project. MEHC supporters wrote numerous letters to the Board of Supervisors and the Larkspur City Council in support of this project. During the October hearing, the Board of Supervisors commented on the outflow of support from the community. In November, more than 200 people attended a community forum on this project, with the majority of speakers expressing support.  

However, there is a long way to go before this project is renovated and providing new homes. The County is submitting its funding application in November and looking to form a community advisory board for the project. Funded projects will be announced in December. If Marin receives the funding, there will be at least one more hearing before the Board of Supervisors to approve the acquisition and fund the contract, probably in December 2021 or January 2022.

We will keep you up to date on these developments. To find out more about this project, see https://www.1251seliseo.com/