Last July, the State of California launched its $750 million “Project Homekey” to help local communities rapidly acquire hotels, motels, commercial buildings and other existing structures to rapidly house people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marin County received approximately $8.6 million which was used to help purchase two San Rafael and Corte Madera properties…
MEHC May 2018 Call to Action for support for ADUs and JADUs Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative invites you to advocate for support of and funding for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in your home town in 2018-19. For many Marinites, the “golden years” are not looking so bright. According to a new…
Your town will be updating its Housing Element over the next two years. The MARIN HOUSING SUMMIT will dive into why you should be involved in the housing planning process, what’s happening in your town, and how you can make a difference. Join housing advocates to better understand why you should be involved in housing…
Redevelopment at Northgate mall provides a golden opportunity to create a real “Town Center” for North San Rafael, while helping to address San Rafael’s affordable housing needs. With the closing of a number of the mall’s anchor stores, the property is ready for a new life. The site’s new owners, Merlone Geier, propose a modern,…
Marin IJ Readers’ Forum, October 20, 2020 Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative is a consortium of advocates building support for projects and policies that advance affordable housing, environmental integrity and social justice. As a member of the MEHC board, I want to say that we applaud the proactive role Mill Valley’s housing advisory committee has taken…
August 13, 2020 As part of the Federal Housing Act of 1974, Section 8 ensures housing affordability by allowing qualified low-income households to rent in the private market. Voucher holders pay 30% of their income toward rental housing; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development pays the difference up to fair market value, directly…
Generating affordable housing isn’t easy! Generally speaking, we lose affordable housing projects to community opposition. However, one recent project garnered considerable good will, but was lost due to other complications. San Geronimo Valley Affordable Housing Association (SGVAHA) tried to purchase a 10-unit building in Fairfax at the beginning of the year, intending to preserve it…
On April 28, the Marin County Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted unanimously to extend and expand renter protections related to the COVID-19 crisis under Resolution 2020-27. These amendments include: the addition of a 90-day rent repayment period after the expiration of the resolution (currently set for May 31 and coinciding with the current shelter-in-place order);…
Many of us are still in a state of shock over the events of the last few weeks, as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in Marin County, Bay Area and then state-wide shelter-in-place orders. As many of us fear for our own health and the health of those close to us, we are also already reeling from…
Objections are roadblocks to solving housing crisis</3> I am writing on behalf of the Marin Workforce Housing Collaborative. (sic) (Should read “Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative”) Workforce and affordable housing is hard to build — especially in Marin, where smaller and less expensive housing is much more difficult to pencil out within acceptable norms of profit….