San Rafael, CA -- Affordable housing developers and nonprofits that regularly assist lower-income Marin County residents have a key opportunity in January and February to apply for funding.
The County of Marin is leveraging several local, state, and federal funding sources for its annual funding cycle. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are administered by the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA). The County also administers the State Permanent Local Housing Allocation, including a one-for-one match from the Marin Affordable Housing Fund.
Local nonprofits have until 5 PM Friday, February 16, to apply for the funds. Application information sessions will be held online Wednesday, January 24 to provide details. Grants are not available for individuals.
Marin has one of the highest median household incomes in California – $148,650 for a family of four. It also has some of the highest home prices and development costs in the country. The median local price for a single-family detached home has hovered around $1.5 million in recent years, and typical rents range from $2,500 to $3,400. Many residents struggle to meet basic needs with housing, basic health, child care, and food security and there is increasing pressure on charitable organizations to provide help.
The federal grants program provides funding for affordable housing projects, community infrastructure improvements, and public services and has a minimum grant size of $15,000. Funding for public services is prioritized for housing support, basic health, food security, and support directed toward children and parents.
Application materials for the 2024 cycle will be available on CDA’s federal grants webpage and in CDA’s Marin County Civic Center office at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 308, in San Rafael. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Applications are assessed on how they affirmatively further fair housing, serve low-income residents, and serve local members of protected classes based on race, gender, disability, and other factors. Individuals may not apply for the grants. Projects that affirmatively further fair housing engage in targeted outreach to combat discrimination, eliminate racial bias, undo historic patterns of segregation, and increase access to housing and services for those least likely to apply.
At the January 24 application information sessions, participants will learn more about the application process, types of eligible projects, and new project requirements. The sessions are organized with two distinct presentations:
CDA staff members will be available throughout the application process to consult with organizations unable to attend the online sessions. Office hours will be held throughout the application process via Zoom; register via www.marincounty.org/federalgrants. For more details, email the Housing and Federal Grants Division.