Written by Lucie Hollingsworth and Ethan Strull. Welcome back, all of you Marin housing policy wonks! While you were all paying more attention to the presidential race, state propositions, and our local tenant protections, our state legislators were dutifully busy pushing laws through to chip away at making California a more affordable and just place….
HCD Housing Element Review and Compliance Report: The Marin County housing compliance was required to be updated due to a court judgement. HCD now lists Marin County as out of compliance. This determination may be a result of the new 2025 laws clarifying Housing Element compliance. Link.
We give thanks to all who’ve advocated for more affordable, environmentally-sound and socially-just housing. MEHC’s capacity expanded this year, and we’ve been working hard for housing. Marin approved more housing this year than it has in decades! MEHC’s support helped advance projects Many projects we support have moved closer to development, including: MEHC’s advocacy connected with the…
“This policy brief explores how public funding can address the San Francisco Bay Area’s housing affordability crisis by increasing the supply of affordable housing, preserving existing affordable housing stock, and keeping renters stably housed.” — Terner Center for Housing Innovation. MEHC suggests reading this policy brief, published in August 2024, as it highlights the feasible…
The Bay Area Equity Atlas notes that SPUR analysis estimates that the Bay Area under-built housing by 700,000 units from 2000-2018. Within the Bay Area, Marin had, by far, the lowest rate of housing production.
MEHC often hears concerns that state streamlining requirements have gone too far. But as this map (and article) show, Marin County approvals of projects remain extremely low.
THE ELECTION RESULTS MAKE FIXING OUR HOUSING CRISIS MORE DIFFICULT, BUT THAT WON’T STOP US. A word from Jenny Silva, MEHC’s Board Chair I, like many of my friends and family, am grappling with the implications of the election. The impact is extremely broad, but today, I’ll focus on the election’s impact on housing. This was a…
The cost of housing is turning away both teachers and students. While many people may think that “affordable housing” only applies to those with extremely low incomes, Marin housing prices are so high that many college graduates, even with advanced degrees, cannot afford even a studio apartment. This includes many of our teachers and…