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
MEHC template email to support Oak Hill
In the MEHC Coming Up Week of March 31st newsletter a template email was included to support Oak Hill at the Marin Office of Education board meeting. You can view the template below: Dear Marin County Office of Education, I am writing to you today in support of the Oak Hill project. The lack of…
Letter of support for Waterstreet project appeal
MEHC sent a formal letter of support on March 30th for the Waterstreet project in Sausalito. You can view it below. Dear Sausalito Planning Commissioners, The Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative (MEHC) urges the Planning Commission to sustain the appeal of administrative determinations for the proposed mixed-use development at 605-613 Bridgeway. 605-613 Bridgeway is a well-suited site for higher density housing in Sausalito. We support its inclusion as an opportunity site in the Sausalito housing element at the density…
MEHC template email to support the Waterstreet project appeal
In the MEHC Coming Up Week of March 31st newsletter an email template was included to show support for the Waterstreet project in Sausalito. You can view the template below: Dear Planning Commissioners, I urge you to sustain the appeal of administrative determinations for the proposed mixed-use development at 605-613 Bridgeway. 605-613 Bridgeway is a…
MEHC template email to urge Board of Supervisors to approve emergency shelter housing
Included in the March 6th and 10th Action Alert was a template letter advocates were encouraged to send to the Board of Supervisors. You can read it below: Dear Board of Supervisors, I am writing to you today in support of the Shelter Crisis Declaration and Alternate Building Codes ordinances. These ordinances are critical to…
Action Alert: Urgent action needed to support housing now
On March 6th and 10th, 2025 MEHC sent out an Action Alert to encourage attendance and advocacy for two important meetings. You can read the Action Alert below: Help us support housing! There are two important housing meetings on Tuesday. Please help us email in your support, and try to attend at least one meeting. Tuesday,…
