Here’s why California gave Marin County nearly $19M for homelessness

Amy Larson
·2 min read

(KRON) — California officials recently gave Marin County nearly $19 million to help move homeless people from encampments to interim housing.

Marin County and the City of San Rafael were awarded nearly $6 million by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) to address homelessness along the Mahon Creek Path in San Rafael. The $5,999,241 in funds will be used to house 46 people who live along Mahon Creek, the county’s largest encampment, and to provide social services.

County officials wrote, “The Mahon encampment currently includes 65 individuals experiencing homelessness across three corridors: the Mahon Creek Path, Andersen Drive, and Francisco Blvd W. The expanded services and supports at Mahon Creek will build on the City’s leadership and accomplishments in the area of ending homelessness.”

Marin County will also receive more than $8,678,000 from the state to house 60 people, mostly Latino farm workers and their families, in a new RV interim housing site in Bolinas, as well as support the construction of 27 new permanent homes.

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Over $3,720,000 in state funding will help provide 90 people with interim shelter options. The 90 people currently live in an encampment by Binford Road near Novato.

“This funding represents a crucial opportunity to address the three largest homeless encampments in Marin,” said Gary Naja-Riese, Director of Marin County Department of Health and Human Services Homelessness and Coordinated Care Division.

County officials said their primary goal is to ensure clients remain housed utilizing the “housing first” approach. All state grant funds must be spent by June 30, 2027.

San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin said, “This grant proposal was developed in collaboration with the County of Marin and key stakeholders to ensure that the fund expenditure will assist people in resolving their homelessness. The grant specifics included important input from the unhoused community received during the City’s recent survey of people living on the Mahon Path.”

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