Marin County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
2014/2015 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Homelessness in Marin—A Call for Leadership Report Date: April 20, 2015 Public
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 8 findings
F1
There is no coordinated, focused, systemic plan with a comprehensive budget to eliminate homelessness in Marin County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Marin County Board of Supervisors assumes the leadership role and accountability for development and execution of a systemic plan to end homelessness in the County that includes all relevant stakeholders.
F2
Marin County has hired a Homeless Policy Analyst who coordinates activities but has no authority as the lead position on homelessness.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Marin County Board of Supervisors directs the Chief Administrative Officer to recruit a high-ranking official with the authority to implement the systemic plan to end homelessness. This official should report directly to the Chief Administrative Officer and should be held accountable for the results of the plan.
F3
The funds Marin County reports spending on homelessness are not in a comprehensive budget, making it impossible for the public to know how and what funds are being spent to address homelessness.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Marin County Board of Supervisors requires a comprehensive County budget for homelessness that is clear to the public and includes revenues and expenditures from all departments and sources.
F4
Decisions about expenditures for the homeless are often reactive to government mandates or political pressure.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The majority of the homeless in Marin County are centered in San Rafael, which negatively impacts business activity and the overall quality of life in that community.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The majority of the homeless services in Marin County are located in San Rafael, prompting other towns to direct the homeless to those services.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The total economic impact of homelessness in Marin County is not known, including the impact on business activity and the costs of public safety services (e.g. police, fire, public works, district attorney, public defender, jail and hospitals), making it impossible for the public to know that the full economic impact is significantly greater than perceived.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Multiple public agencies in Marin County (e.g. police, fire, public works, district attorney, public defender, jail and hospitals) interact with the homeless regularly, but do not participate in the collaboration on homelessness, so their valuable experience is not part of the planning.
No recommendations for this finding