Homelessness in Marin a Progress Report Report Date: May 9, 2018

The nonprofit and faith-based groups that have provided emergency shelter under the REST program for the past ten years will no longer continue to do so. The REST program ended in April 2018.

The Housing First philosophy espouses housing-focused shelter, including services for the homeless and case management.

Housing First is dependent upon the availability of housing. The very limited supply of rental housing makes this a challenge in Marin County.

Nonprofits provide most services and shelter to the homeless in Marin County; some of them receive funds from the County, the State, and the Federal Government in addition to fundraising from private sources.

Collaboration between the County and the nonprofit service providers has improved. The coalition of Ritter Center/St. Vincent de Paul Society/Marin Housing authority providing assistance under the Whole Person Care program is a notable example.

At least 400 units for the chronically homeless must be added to the existing housing stock to achieve functional zero homelessness.23 This can be accomplished by new construction as well as repurposing existing housing, motels, churches/convents, and office/retail.

Federal funding for the WPC and HHP programs ends in 2020. New funding sources must be created to continue the benefits of these programs.

The cost of chronic homelessness in Marin in terms of emergency room visits, hospital stays, police services, jail and the negative impacts of living on the streets has been documented to be approximately $60,000 per person per year. By contrast, the cost of a person in supportive housing has been documented to be approximately $34,000. Thus, housing is actually less expensive than abandoning the homeless to the streets.24

Homeward Bound’s Mill Street facility does not have staffing during the day. As a result everyone who stays there is turned out at 8:00 AM and cannot return until 5:00 PM. With additional funding, this facility could provide intensive housing-focused support throughout the day.

The State of California has millions of dollars allocated to serve the homeless that have not yet been released. Marin’s collaborative homeless advocates are well positioned to put additional funds to immediate use in ending homelessness in Marin.25 23 “New Approaches to Homelessness in Marin.” [Video.] Marin Coalition. March 2018. 24 “Marin Chronic Alcohol with Justice Involvement Project Business Plan June 2013.” Marin Department of Health & Human Services. 25 “Billions of Dollars to Help California’s Homeless Population are Piling Up.” Los Angeles Times, 25 March 2018.