Policy: Homelessness
Homelessness is an urgent issue in Marin County. The high cost of living is the number one predictor and cause of homelessness in the Bay Area. With a severe lack of affordable housing, emergency shelters, and limited number of open spaces in shelters, Marin County has a growing critical issue. Housing is a human right, and Marin must do more. Marin County takes a “housing first” approach to housing, which strives to get people into housing and then address issues, rather than criminalizing homelessness. There are no dedicated funding sources for addressing homelessness. Current information on homelessness in Marin is available here.
MEHC recommends reading Homelessness is a Housing Problem, by Gregg Colburn, Clayton Page Aldern. It explains the direct relation between the high cost of housing and homelessness.
Policy News
- KQED: Wildfires worsen California's housing crisis and homelessness
January 15, 2025California, homelessness, Homelessness, Housing News, Media, Policy - Marin IJ: Homeless population in Marin is slowly shrinking
January 16, 2025Marin County Unincorporated, homelessness, Homelessness, Housing News, Media, Policy - New York Times: Ending homelessness amongst veterans gives hope for broader community
August 6, 2024Marin County Unincorporated, homelessness, Homelessness, Housing News, Media, Policy - Marin IJ: Marin County survey on housing displacement
August 13, 2024Marin County Unincorporated, homelessness, Housing News, Media - Marin IJ: Marin Voice: Hurdles to helping homeless begin with limited affordable housing
July 28, 2024BAHFA, homelessness, Policy - Marin IJ: Marin stakeholders react to Newsom order on homeless sweeps
July 25, 2024homelessness, Policy, State Legislation
Policy Advocacy
Action Alert to support affordable housing and anti-displacement funds at the Board of Supervisors budget meeting
On May 16th and 18th, MEHC sent Action Alerts to encourage public comment at the 2026 Marin County budget hearings. You can view it below: We want to make a case for being as generous as possible for all 3 P’s of affordable housing – production, preservation and protection. Affordable housing is listed as a…
MEHC endorsement letter for 930 Irwin Street
On May 5, 2025 MEHC formally endorsed the 930 Irwin Street project in San Rafael. Below you can read the letter sent to the San Rafael Planning Commission. Dear San Rafael Planning Commissioners, The Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (MEHC) urges the San Rafael Planning Commission to approve the 930 Irwin housing project. This project places…
MEHC Public Comment for 5/14 Corte Madera meeting on the 240 Tamal Vista Blvd appeal
On May 6, 2025 MEHC Executive Director Jenny Silva sent official public comment to Corte Madera Town Council. You can read it below: Dear Corte Madera City Council Members, The Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (MEHC) urges the City Council to deny the appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of the 240 Tamal Vista housing project. 240…
Public Comment email template for Oak Hill meeting with San Rafael City Schools on 4/21
In the Week of April 21 Coming Up newsletter, a template email was included to support the Oak Hill project and financing plans: Dear Board of Education members, I am writing to you today in support of the Oak Hill project and the proposed Affordable Workforce Housing Guarantee financing plan. I urge you to vote…
Public Comment email template for 240 Tamal Vista Blvd meeting on 4/22
In the Week of April 21 Coming Up newsletter, MEHC included the following email template for advocates to send in their support: Dear Planning Commissioners, I am writing to you today in support of the 240 Tamal Vista Blvd project. It will bring much needed affordable housing to the town, and it is in a…
