2020-2024 Consolidated Plan

Community Development Agency

Consolidated Plan

The Consolidated Plan is a five (5) year strategic plan that identifies goals for federal funding programs provided through HUD, including the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). The Consolidated Plan provides a framework for identifying priorities and programs to address affordable housing, community development needs, and public services for extremely low- up to moderate-income families, persons with disabilities, seniors, and youth.

Understanding the needs of a community is critical to planning the use of federal grant funds. As part of the 2020-24 Consolidated Planning process, staff engaged the community using various methods to gather information about housing, community spaces and infrastructure, and public service needs in Marin. In addition, staff reached out to other jurisdictions implementing federal grant programs to learn smart practices to improve impact and effectiveness of Marin County’s federal grants program.

 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

  • ES-05 Executive Summary

The Process

  • PR-05 Lead & Responsible Agencies
  • PR-10 Consultation
  • PR-15 Citizen Participation

Needs Assessment

  • NA-05 Overview
  • NA-10 Housing Needs Assessment
  • NA-15 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Problems
  • NA-20 Disproportionately Greater Need: Severe Housing Problems
  • NA-25 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Cost Burdens
  • NA-35 Public Housing
  • NA-40 Homeless Needs Assessment
  • NA-45 Non-Homeless Special Needs Assessment
  • NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs

Housing Market Analysis

  • MA-05 Overview
  • MA-10 Number of Housing Units
  • MA-15 Housing Market Analysis: Cost of Housing
  • MA-20 Housing Market Analysis: Conditions of Housing
  • MA-25 Public and Assisted Housing
  • MA-30 Homeless Facilities and Services
  • MA-35 Special Needs Facilities and Services
  • MA-40 Barriers to Affordable Housing
  • MA-45 Non-Housing Community Development Needs
  • MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis Discussion

Strategic Plan

  • SP-05 Overview
  • SP-10 Geographic Priorities
  • SP-25 Priority Needs
  • SP-30 Influence of Market Conditions
  • SP-35 Anticipated Resources
  • SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure
  • SP-45 Goals Summary
  • SP-50 Public Housing Accessibility and Involvement
  • SP-55 Barriers to Affordable Housing
  • SP-60 Homelessness Strategy
  • SP-65 Lead Based Paint Hazards
  • SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy
  • SP-80 Monitoring

Action Plan

  • AP-15 Expected Resources
  • AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives
  • AP-35 Projects
  • AP-50 Geographic Distribution
  • AP-55 Affordable Housing
  • AP-60 Public Housing
  • AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities
  • AP-75 Barriers to Affordable Housing
  • AP-85 Other Actions
  • AP-90 Program Specific Requirements

Appendices

  • Appendix-1 Citizen Participation

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

ES-05 Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b)

1. Introduction

The Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that all jurisdictions entitled to receive funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) programs develop a Consolidated Plan for community development no less than every five years, and an Action Plan every year. The two federal grant programs included in this plan are 1) the Community Development Block Grant program and 2) the HOME Investment Partnerships program. Developing the plan is a collaborative process that relies on community input and provides an opportunity for strategic planning to ensure that actions taken at the local level are coordinated and comprehensively address priority housing and community development needs. The Action Plan is required annually to provide specific information on how the funds awarded will be used to meet the priority needs identified in the Consolidated Plan, and annual evaluation and performance reports are prepared to track progress and measure accomplishments.

A strategic plan must be submitted to HUD at least once every five years. This Consolidated Plan covers the time period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025, and along with the Annual Action Plan, serves as Marin County’s application for CDBG and HOME funds for Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021). The Housing and Federal Grants Division (HFGD) of the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) is the lead agency responsible for the submission of the Consolidated Plan to HUD.

Participation by the community, nonprofit organizations, and input by local public entities enriched the planning process for the Consolidated Plan and allowed the County to identify strategies for investments to support individuals, families, and communities countywide. The 2020 Annual Action Plan identifies current projects addressing priorities and strategies stated in the Consolidated Plan. All the proposed projects and activities are intended to benefit residents of Marin county who have extremely low, low, and moderate-incomes, and populations that have special needs, and members of protected classes which include race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.  

2. Summary of the objectives and outcomes identified in the Plan Needs Assessment Overview

The County has identified the following goals for the planning period:

Create and preserve housing affordability, accessibility, and quality – Invest in the acquisition, new construction, and rehabilitation of rental and homeownership opportunities and assist first-time homeowners with down payment assistance to preserve housing affordability, stabilize residents at risk of involuntary displacement, and promote equitable access to housing options.

Assist populations with special needs – Invest in activities that help persons with special needs to access needed supportive services, facilities, and provide affordable and accessible housing.

Enhanced community and public facilities and spaces – Invest in rehabilitating and enhancing community facilities and public spaces in low-income neighborhoods and community facilities serving low-income residents including homeless populations.

Services to foster security and economic advancement – Invest in public services that support low-income communities including basic health services; children, youth, and parent support services; domestic violence services; education and job training; food security; housing support services; legal services; microenterprise business support services; and senior services.

3. Evaluation of past performance

In general, the community development and affordable housing activities that were implemented during the current Consolidated Plan time period served the identified needs. The five-year performance measures matrix and the one-year annual performance measures matrix in the County’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPERs) show how the County performed against the goals that were set in the five-year strategic plan and the one-year action plan. The comparison of accomplishment data to goals indicate that the Consolidated Plan activities made a positive impact on the identified needs.

Marin County has funded a variety of programs and activities with HUD block grants and continues to work to address the greatest housing, community and economic development needs in the county. However, due to the complexity and extent of needs in relation to the limited resources available, these needs persist. Marin intends to continue funding programs and activities that make progress in ensuring safe, accessible, affordable housing and move residents towards economic security.

4. Summary of citizen participation process and consultation process

Marin County is committed to making local government open, accessible, and responsive to its residents. To this end, Marin County conducted extensive outreach efforts to provide meaningful opportunities for all county residents to participate in the process. In preparation for the Consolidated Plan, the County consulted with community members, nonprofit housing and service providers, advocacy groups, government and industry representatives to discuss housing and community development needs. Avenues for engagement included a stakeholder survey, one-on-one interviews, community meetings, workshops, and public hearings. These efforts resulted in the input of over xx residents and stakeholders countywide.

Additionally, prior to the development of the Consolidated Plan, the County of Marin began developing an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), which included extensive community engagement in the form of a one-on-one meetings, community meetings hosted by community-based organizations and coalitions, and County led public hearings, steering committee, and community advisory group meetings. These efforts resulted in the input of over 900 residents and stakeholders countywide.

5. Summary of public comments

This will be completed after the public comment period.

6. Summary of comments or views not accepted and the reasons for not accepting them

This will be completed after the public comment period.

7. Summary

This will be completed after the public comment period.

The Process

The Process

PR-05 Lead & Responsible Agencies 24 CFR 91.200(b)

1. Describe agency/entity responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan and those responsible for administration of each grant program and funding source

The following are the agencies/entities responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan and those responsible for administration of each grant program and funding source.

Agency Role

Name

Department/Agency

Lead Agency

MARIN COUNTY

 

CDBG Administrator

MARIN COUNTY

Community Development Agency, Federal Grants

HOME Administrator

MARIN COUNTY

Community Development Agency, Federal Grants

ESG Administrator

 

 

Table 1 – Responsible Agencies

Narrative

N/A

Consolidated Plan Public Contact Information

Leelee Thomas, Planning Manager – lthomas@marincounty.org

Molly Kron, Planner – mkron@marincounty.org

Jillian Zeiger, Planner – jzeiger@marincounty.org

Genevieve Hahn-Kerr, Budget and Grants Analyst – ghahnkerr@marincounty.org

PR-10 Consultation – 91.100, 91.110, 91.200(b), 91.300(b), 91.215(I) and 91.315(I)

1. Introduction

The County of Marin’s Housing and Federal Grants Division (HFGD), undertook a new approach to Consultation for the preparation of the 2020-24 Consolidated Plan (Con Plan). Staff undertook a robust community outreach process to gather information to inform the Con Plan. This community engagement process capitalized on overlap with two (2) other County planning processes being conducted by Health and Human Services. This unique opportunity to collaborate on community engagement allowed each Division to reach a broader audience and address community concerns and issues in a holistic manner. Together the Community Development Agency (CDA) and the Marin Health and Human Services Department (HHS) collaborated to inform the following plans:

  • Housing and Federal Grants Division’s 5-Year Consolidated Plan
  • Mental Health Services Act 3-Year Plan
  • Substance Use Services 5-Year Plan

This collective community outreach process to engage citizens provided a deeper understanding of community needs, which is essential to planning the use of federal grant funds. To engage the community, staff used various methods to gather information about housing, community spaces and infrastructure, and public service needs in Marin. The methodologies used include the following:

Community Survey - online and paper surveys available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese were used to gather community input to inform funding priorities (survey is attached). Surveys were disseminated in partnership with local nonprofit service and housing providers and County departments including Health and Human Services and the Marin County Free Library. To enhance and encourage participation staff attended numerous community events, including weekly Health Hubs organized through the Marin Community Clinics in both Novato and San Rafael, the Canal Alliance food pantry, and events put together by local organizations, including Community Action Marin, the Marin Organizing Committee, and Performing Stars. A total of 322 surveys were collected, with 229 in English, 92 in Spanish, and one (1) in Vietnamese.

Services Provider Survey - an online service provider survey was distributed to over 50 organizations in Marin County. Twenty-five (25) surveys were completed by organizations that provide a wide range of services including childcare, senior, parent support, case management, basic health, and food security services. Survey respondents were asked about their biggest demand for services, funding gaps, and demographic information about their service population.

Community Meetings - in collaboration with Marin Health and Human Services, over the course of four (4) months staff lead seven (7) community meetings and focus groups to gather data. The meetings were held across the County including in Marin City, Kentfield, Novato, San Rafael, West Marin and one meeting in the Canal Neighborhood of San Rafael was held entirely in Spanish. Nearly 300 people participated in these meetings.

Interviews - staff reached out to 15 local government entities in Marin for interviews to garner insights into client and service trends, funding available, and demand for services. Of the interviews requested staff were able to conduct 11 interviews—two (2) cities, eight (8) County departments/divisions, and one (1) community service district.

In addition, staff interviewed other jurisdictions implementing federal grant programs to learn smart practices to improve impact and effectiveness of Marin County’s federal grants program. Nine (9) neighboring jurisdictions that administer federal grant programs similar to Marin’s were contacted. Of those, five (5) neighboring jurisdictions were interviewed to identify trends and practices that could be applied to Marin’s program.

All of these efforts have been an overlay on top of the County’s continuous work to collaborate across divisions and with local public agencies and nonprofit service providers to inform strategies and enhance impact of services for the County’s most vulnerable populations.

Provide a concise summary of the jurisdiction’s activities to enhance coordination between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health and service agencies (91.215(I)).

In preparing the Plan, the HFGD consulted with agencies and organizations that provide services to the community. These consultations were in addition to ongoing interactions between County departments and divisions, local Public Housing Authority, neighboring public agencies, and numerous nonprofit providers.

The County facilitates and participates in several committees and groups to extensively engage in strategy and planning discussions between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health, and service agencies. These forums allow public and nonprofit agencies to more effectively coordinate service programs, and include: the Homeless Policy Steering Committee, Youth Prevention Collaboration Steering Committee, Housing Acquisition Group, Fair Housing Advisory Committee, Fair Housing Steering Committee, Planning Directors Housing Working Group, Opening Doors Marin, Aging Action Initiative, Green and Healthy Homes, Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board, Marin County Mental Health Board, Mental Health Services Act Advisory Committee, Healthy Marin Partnership, and the Community Health Improvement Plan Steering Committee, among others. 

Describe coordination with the Continuum of Care and efforts to address the needs of homeless persons (particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth) and persons at risk of homelessness

The County of Marin’s Health and Human Services Department (H&HS) plays the pivotal role of coordinating and implementing the Continuum of Care (CoC) and its efforts to prevent and eliminate homelessness. This work is overseen by the Homeless Policy Steering Committee (HSPC), which is the governing body of the Marin CoC and includes members representing homeless services and housing providers, faith-groups, veterans services, mental health, nonprofit social services providers, services users, city officials and county representatives, and other stakeholders who have a role in preventing and ending homelessness. The HPSC develops long-term strategic plans and facilitates year-round efforts to identify the needs of homeless individuals and families in Marin.  The core responsibilities include:

  • Involving key local stakeholders in establishing a community-wide response to the complex problem of homelessness.
  • Analyzing relevant data to identify the most effective mix of homeless services and housing for Marin.
  • Setting priorities for programs and designing evaluation processes.
  • Providing final approval for the Marin Continuum of Care application submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • Overseeing implementation of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH) at a local level.
  • Oversight of the CoC’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
  • Monitoring implementation of the CoC’s 10 Year Plan

The Marin CoC provides a full continuum of housing services to homeless persons including outreach and engagement, emergency and transitional shelter, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing.

In past years housing and service providers focused on efforts toward prevention of homelessness because of the perceived cost-effectiveness of this approach. However, there has a been a shift nationally towards prioritizing resources to get people off of the streets and into housing. In 2017, the County along with other local public agencies and service providers adopted a series of new strategies for ending chronic homelessness including Coordinated Entry, Homeless Outreach Team, Housing First, and Whole Person Care. The vision behind these strategies is to build a sustainable, evidence-based, outcomes-focused coordinated system of care to efficiently and effectively house and serve Marin’s most vulnerable communities. As of March 2020, Marin CoC reports that 190 individuals have been housed since the launch of these strategies.

Describe consultation with the Continuum(s) of Care that serves the jurisdiction's area in determining how to allocate ESG funds, develop performance standards and evaluate outcomes, and develop funding, policies and procedures for the administration of HMIS

The County of Marin does not receive Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Marin Continuum of Care providers receive noncompetitive funding through the ESG Balance of State process, and participate in the ESG Balance of State regional competition for competitive funding. Marin Continuum of Care develops local performance standards in alignment with criteria outlined in the ESG Balance of State NOFA, evaluates applicant performance according to these standards, and recommends applicants to the ESG Balance of State process. CoC providers are awarded ESG Balance of State funding through grant agreements administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

HFGD staff sit on the CoC oversite committee to provide better coordination between the two processes. 

2. Describe Agencies, groups, organizations and others who participated in the process and describe the jurisdictions consultations with housing, social service agencies and other entities

Will be updated with attendees of Application Review meeting and upcoming PSC and BOS public hearings.

  • 10,000 Degrees
  • Adopt A Family
  • Aging Action Initiative
  • Aging in Action
  • Alameda County
  • Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth
  • Artworks Downtown
  • Audubon Canyon Ranch
  • Bayside MLK School
  • Bolinas Children’s Center
  • Bolinas Community Land Trust
  • Bridge Housing
  • Bridge the Gap
  • Buckelew Programs
  • Canal Alliance
  • Casa Rene
  • Center for Domestic Peace
  • City and County of San Francisco
  • City of Belvedere
  • City of Fairfax
  • City of Napa
  • City of Novato
  • City of Oakland
  • City of San Rafael
  • Coastal Health Alliance
  • College of Marin
  • Commission on Aging
  • Community Action Marin
  • Community Land Trust Association of Marin
  • County of Marin Probation Department
  • County of Marin Staff
  • County’s DREAM Affinity Group
  • Covia Foundation
  • Dance Palace
  • Dominican University of California
  • Downtown Street Team
  • Early Vibes Inc.
  • Ecumenical Association of Housing
  • Eden Housing
  • Empowerment Clubhouse
  • Enterprise Center
  • Environmental Justice
  • ExtraFood
  • Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
  • Fairfax San Anselmo Children's Center
  • Family and Children Law Center
  • First 5 Marin
  • Galilee Harbor
  • Gilead House
  • Golden Gate Regional Center
  • Golden Gate Village Resident Council
  • Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, Inc.
  • Hannah Project Partnership for Academic Achievement
  • Homeward Bound of Marin
  • House of Life Ministries
  • Huckleberry Youth Programs
  • Human Rights Commission
  • Integrated Community Services
  • ISOJI
  • Jewish Family and Children Services
  • Kids Cooking for Life
  • Legal Aid of Marin
  • Legion of Angels
  • Lifehouse, Inc.
  • Mainstreet Moms
  • Marin Asian Advocacy Project
  • Marin Asian-American Public Local Employees
  • Marin Center for Independent Living
  • Marin Childcare Commission
  • Marin Childcare Council
  • Marin City Community Development Corporation
  • Marin City Community Services District
  • Marin City Family Resource Center
  • Marin City Health & Wellness Center
  • Marin City Older adults on the Go
  • Marin City Teen Center
  • Marin Community Clinics
  • Marin Community Foundation
  • Marin County Administrators Office
  • Marin County Alcohol and Other Drug Advisory Board
  • Marin County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
  • Rotary Manor San Rafael
  • Marin County Board of Supervisors
  • Marin County Career Explorers
  • Marin County Children and Family
  • Marin County Children and Family Services Division
  • Marin County Community Health and Prevention Division
  • Marin County Council of Mayors & Councilmembers
  • Marin County Employment and Training Division
  • Marin County Fatherhood Council
  • Marin County Free Library
  • Marin County Homeless Team 
  • Marin County Medical Reserves Corps
  • Marin County Public Assistance Division
  • Marin County West Marin Service
  • Marin County West Marin Service Center
  • Marin County Whole Person Care
  • Marin County Youth Commission
  • Marin Health and Human Services Prevention Division
  • Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships
  • Marin Hoarding Alliance
  • Marin Horizon Community School
  • Marin Housing Authority
  • Marin Interfaith Council and Marin Organizing Committee
  • Marin Lutheran Church
  • Marin Organizing Committee
  • Marin Promise
  • Marin PTA
  • Marin Transit
  • Marin Youth Court
  • MC Census Subcommittee
  • MC Fatherhood Group
  • Mental Health Advocates of Marin
  • Migrant Health Promotion (REACH Promotora Community Coalition)
  • MLK Advisory Group
  • Multicultural Center of Marin
  • Nicasio Preschool
  • North Bay Children's Center
  • North Marin Community Services
  • Novato High School
  • Novato Unified School District
  • Opening the World
  • Operation Access
  • Parent Services Project
  • Performing Stars of Marin
  • Petaluma Health Center
  • Pickleweed Preschool
  • Point Reyes National Sea Shore
  • Project Avary
  • Ritter Center
  • RotaCare Bay Area
  • San Geronimo Valley Affordable Housing Association
  • San Geronimo Valley Community Center
  • San Marin High School
  • San Mateo County
  • San Rafael City Schools
  • San Rafael Police Department
  • San Rafael Rotary Manor
  • Sausalito Marin City School District
  • Seneca Family of Agencies
  • Services Division
  • Side by Side
  • SF Marin Food Bank
  • Shoreline Acres
  • Shurig Center
  • Spahr Center
  • St Vincent de Paul
  • Surviving The Odds Project
  • Sutter Health
  • Tomales Bay Youth Center
  • Tomales Town Hall
  • Town of Fairfax
  • Town of San Anselmo
  • Women’s Rights and Peace Bay Area
  • West Marin Collaborative
  • West Marin Community Land Trust
  • West Marin Community Services
  • West Marin Senior Services
  • Whistlestop
  • Wise Choices for Girls
  • YMCA of Marin and San Francisco
  • YMCA Youth Court
  • Youth Leadership Institute
  • YWCA of Marin and San Francisco
  • YWCA of San Francisco and Marin

Table 2 – Agencies, groups, organizations who participated.

Identify any Agency Types not consulted and provide rationale for not consulting

The County made an effort to contact and consult with a wide variety of agency types and partnering organizations interested in affordable housing, homelessness, persons with special needs, and community/economic development in the preparation of the 2020-24 Consolidated Plan. No agencies were intentionally excluded from consultation.

Other local/regional/state/federal planning efforts considered when preparing the Plan

Name of Plan

Lead Organization

How do the goals of your Strategic Plan overlap with the goals of each plan?

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Marin County Community Development Agency

Both address housing and service issues in the County for member of the protected classes. Findings directly inform broader goals of the Consolidated Plan and prioritization of funding.

Continuum of Care Strategic Plan

Marin County Health and Human Services

Both address housing and service issues in the County

Housing Element

Marin County Community Development Agency

Both address housing issues in the County

General Plan

Marin County Community Development Agency

Both address housing and development issues

2019 Agency Plan

Housing Authority of the County of Marin

Both address housing issues in the County

Describe cooperation and coordination with other public entities, including the State and any adjacent units of general local government, in the implementation of the Consolidated Plan (91.215(l))

In preparation for the Consolidated Plan, the County engaged its established committee that oversees the implementation of the CDBG and HOME federal grant programs, the Countywide Priority Setting Committee (PSC). The PSC consists of one elected Councilmember from each city and town in Marin, a member of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and 7 community members representing racial and ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. The PSC provides direct coordination with the councils of each neighboring city and town in Marin and ensures cooperation among these public entities in the implementation of the Consolidated Plan. In addition, HFGD staff work directly with staff from the County’s two largest cities, Novato and San Rafael, to partner on projects receiving federal grant funds and to ensure priority impact and effectiveness.

In addition, the County consulted with representatives from a broad range of organizations including, but not limited to those focused on the following needs: basic health services; child, family, and youth services; fair-housing; housing support services; legal services; older adult services; mental health services; public housing; transportation, and community resiliency to withstand and recover from adverse situations. These agencies were specifically invited and encouraged to participate in the public input process and to share with their client’s surveys and notices of meetings and hearings. Entities that participated in the public input process are listed in section PR-10 Consultation.

Additionally, prior to the development of the Consolidated Plan, the County was in the process of developing its Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). Many organizations and public entities serving the County participated in this process. This analysis established both regional goals to address the contributing factors that are limiting housing choice, and were approved by the PSC, which contains representation from each City and Town in Marin.

Draft ConPlan will be submitted to State. Additional text to be added here if response received.

Narrative (optional):

N/A

PR-15 Citizen Participation – 91.105, 91.115, 91.200(c) and 91.300(c)

1. Summary of citizen participation process/Efforts made to broaden citizen participation

Summarize citizen participation process and how it impacted goal-setting

Beginning in May 2019 the County of Marin conducted extensive outreach and consultation for the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and the 2020-24 Consolidated Plan.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Outreach and Consultation

Staff met and consulted with 972 individuals through one-on-one meetings, community meetings hosted by community-based organizations and coalitions, and County led public hearings, steering committee and community advisory group meetings.

2020-24 Consolidated Plan Outreach and Consultation

Staff conducted a multi-strategy outreach campaign to inform the 2020-24 Consolidated Plan. Staff engaged the community using a community survey, service provider survey, community meetings, and interviews. A summary of each methods engagement is detailed below:

Community Survey -

Online and paper surveys available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese were used to gather community input to inform funding priorities. Surveys were disseminated in partnership with local nonprofit service and housing providers and County departments including Health and Human Services and the Marin County Free Library. To enhance and encourage participation staff attended numerous community events, including weekly Health Hubs organized through the Marin Community Clinics in both Novato and San Rafael, the Canal Alliance food pantry, and events put together by local organizations, including Community Action Marin, the Marin Organizing Committee, and Performing Stars. A total of 322 surveys were collected, with 229 in English, 92 in Spanish, and one (1) in Vietnamese.

Services Provider Survey -

An online survey for service providers was distributed to over 50 organizations in Marin County. Twenty-five (25) surveys were completed by organizations that provide a wide range of services including childcare, senior services, parent support, case management, basic health, and food security services. Survey respondents were asked about their biggest demand for services, funding gaps, and demographic information about their service population.

Community Meetings -

In collaboration with Marin County Health and Human Services, over the course of four (4) months staff lead seven (7) community meetings and focus groups to gather data. The meetings were held across the County including in Marin City, Kentfield, Novato, San Rafael, West Marin and one meeting in the Canal Neighborhood of San Rafael was held entirely in Spanish. Nearly 300 people participated in these meetings.

Interviews -

Staff reached out to 15 local government entities in Marin for interviews to garner insights into client and service trends, funding available, and demand for services. Of the interviews requested staff were able to conduct 11 interviews—two (2) cities, eight (8) County departments/divisions, and one (1) community service district. In addition, staff did outreach to nine (9) neighboring jurisdictions that administer federal grant programs similar to Marin’s. Of those, five (5) neighboring jurisdictions were interviewed to identify trends and practices that could be applied to Marin’s program.

Countywide Priority Setting Committee Meetings -

The initial public meetings for the 2020-2024 Con Plan were held on October 17, 2019 and December 5, 2019 with the Countywide Priority Setting Committee, which is comprised of community members representing protected classes and city, town, and County elected officials representing the entire county. At these meetings findings form community outreach and strategies identified for the Con Plan were discussed along with the potential impact for each planning area. At the December 5, 2019 meeting the PSC approved the Goals for the 2020-24 Con Plan and the 2020-21 funding application timeline. Subsequently, an application workshop for PSC members to learn more about and provide feedback on the submitted applications was held on February 20, 2020. Next, three local planning area public hearings were held on March 16, 24, and April 2, 2020 to elicit public comment and make decisions about the use of CDBG and HOME funds. Finally, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing to receive public comment and adopt the final Con Plan and funding recommendations for submission to HUD on May 12, 2020. Public comments were received regarding the Con Plan, funding amounts, funding trends, prioritization of funds for members of the protected classes, and eligibility for CDBG/HOME funded projects.

Formal notice of the 30-day comment period for the Con Plan, Annual Action Plan was published in the Marin Independent Journal on April 12, 2020. The comment period began on April 14, 2020 and concluded on May 15, 2020.

Funding Application Outreach -

On December 31, 2019 staff presented at the ISOJI community meeting in Marin City; January 15, 2020 two (2) bidding conferences were held in San Rafael, CA, one focused on Public Service projects and the second focused on Capital and Housing projects; and on January 22, 2020 staff presented at a West Marin Collaborative community forum in Point Reyes Station. These meeting were all intended to inform the public and prospective applicants about the opportunity to apply for CDBG and HOME funds, elicit project ideas, and to discuss CDBG and HOME eligibility requirements.

Citizen Participation Outreach

Sort

Order

Mode of

Outreach

Targe tof

Outreach

Summary of

response/

attendance

Summary of

comments

received

Summary of

comments not accepted

and reasons

URL

1

Community

Needs

Public

Meeting

6/18/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Residents

of West Marin

27 community members participated.

 

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

2

Community

Needs

Public

Meeting

7/22/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Residents

of North Marin

45 community members participated.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

3

Community

Needs

Public

Meeting

8/1/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Residents

of Central Marin

56 community members participated.

 

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

4

Community

Needs

Public

Meeting

8/5/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Residents

of Southern Marin

58 community members participated.

 

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

5

Community

Needs

Public

Meeting

8/14/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Residents

of Central Marin

26 community members participated.

 

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

6

Community

Needs

Focus Group

8/28/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Spanish Speaking Residents

of Marin

22 members of community-based organizations participated.

 

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

7

Community

Needs

Public

Meeting

9/26/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Spanish Speaking Residents

of Marin

49 community members participated.

 

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

8

Community

Needs

Tabling

8/20/2019 – 9/27/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

Residents

of Marin

Staff tabled at 15 community events across Marin county administering a community survey in 3 languages and answering questions about community resources.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

9

Community Needs Survey

Non-targeted/

broad

community

 

English, Spanish, and Vietnamese Speaking Residents

of Marin

322 surveys were collected with 229 being in English, 92 in Spanish, and one (1) in Vietnamese.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

10

Draft Con

Plan Public Hearing 10/17/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County held an informational session about the Consolidated Plan process. # community members attended

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

11

Draft Con

Plan Public Hearing 12/5/2019

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County held a session identifying the Consolidated Plan priorities. # community members attended

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

12

Application Workshop

 

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County held 2 information sessions regarding the application process and eligible projects. 34 community members attended.

Comments consisted of project eligibility, total funding available, and process for allocating funds.

N/A

N/A

13

Draft Con

Plan Public Hearing 5/07/2020

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County held a session regarding finalizing the Consolidated Plan report. # community members attended.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

14

Draft Con

Plan Public Hearing 5/12/2020

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County held a session approving the Consolidated Plan report. # community members attended

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

15

Press Releases

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County issued 2 press releases regarding the Community Needs Public Meetings and Community Survey to 1,350 subscribers and 90 news agency contacts on 7/22/2019 and 9/10/2019.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

16

Community Fliering

Non-targeted/

broad

community

Staff posted and distributed flyers to post-offices, laundry mats, markets, community centers, and libraries in each city/town and surrounding community where Community Needs Public Meetings were held.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

17

Social Media

Non-targeted/

broad

community

Staff posted and distributed social media notices through Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, and the Patch for the Community Needs Public Meetings and Community Survey.

See 2020-24 ConPlan Outreach Findings Attachment.

N/A

N/A

18

Newspaper Ads

 

 

Non-targeted/

broad

community

County published notices in the Marin Independent Journal announcing public hearings on 8/23/2019, 11/6/2019, and 1/21/2020

 

County published notice in the Marin Independent Journal announcing the draft five-year Consolidated Plan was available for public review on 4/12/2020.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Table 3 – Citizen Participation Outreach

Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment

NA-05 Overview Needs Assessment Overview

This section of the Consolidated Plan examines housing, community, and economic development needs of residents. As required by HUD, the assessment is based on an analysis of needs tables—discussed below—and informed by resident input, stakeholder consultation, and the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.

The Consolidated Plan’s projected housing needs in Marin County for the five-year period between Fiscal Years 2020 and 2024 is based on the 2015 ACS figures for extremely low income, very low income, and low-income households. Across the County housing and service providers believe that these projections understate the total housing need over the period covered by this report. The ACS data provided through the IDIS tool does not reflect dramatic increases in market rents which have occurred since then in the past few years. Local social service agencies also believe that minority households are under-reported in the ACS data and these households tend to have larger families and more serious unmet housing needs than the county average.  Additional data was gathered by the Marin County Department of Health & Human Services as Lead Agency for the Continuum of Care (CoC). 

On average, median incomes are rising in Marin County; the 2018 ACS estimated Marin’s median income at approximately $110,217 for a family of 4. However, as demonstrated in the AI, people with disabilities, families with children, older adults, people of color and the local workforce are experiencing more challenges to sustain life in Marin, especially families that rent.

NA-10 Housing Needs Assessment - 24 CFR 91.205 (a,b,c)

Summary of Housing Needs

Marin County has attractive residential environments due to its unique combination of natural beauty and proximity to San Francisco, the coast, wine country, and large percentage of land restricted as open space. Many of the housing problems that exist today, such as low vacancy rates, escalating housing prices and rents, and the overall demand for housing and pressure for growth, are a result of these qualities. Housing needs have continued to increase in Marin over the past decade, and particularly in the last few years. The need for additional housing supply and in particular subsidized rental housing has grown since the 2008 recession.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2019 “Out of Reach” report ranked Marin as tied for the most expensive places to rent in the nation.[1] The report notes that tenants must make $60.96 an hour to afford to rent a modest, two-bedroom home estimated to cost $3,170 a month.

The 2018 ACS statistics indicate that the median contract rent has risen from $1,587 in 2015 to $2,072 in 2018[2]. According to the 2018 ACS, there is a 99.7% occupancy rate in homeowner housing and a 97.5% occupancy rate in rental units in the County.[3] Those in need of housing include people with mental and physical disabilities, single parent households, singles with no children, large households, agricultural workers, people experiencing homelessness, older adults, and the local workforce which is increasingly service based.

The Association of Bay Area Governments’ Regional Housing Need Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area allocated the following number of units needed in Marin during the 2015–2023 period:

Very Low AMI

Low AMI

Moderate AMI

Above Moderate AMI

Total

618

367

423

890

2,298

     Table 4 – Anticipated Housing Needs in San Francisco Bay Area by Income Level

Data Source:

2015-2023 Association of Bay Area Governments

 

Demographics

Base Year: 2009

Most Recent Year: 2015

% Change

Population

252,409

258,380

2%

Households

101,086

103,675

3%

Median Income

$87,728.00

$93,257.00

6%

 

     Table 4 – Anticipated Housing Needs in San Francisco Bay Area by Income Level

Data Source:

2015-2023 Association of Bay Area Governments

Newer data illustrates a significant increase in median income in Marin County. According to the American Community Survey table S1903 5-year estimates, the median income in Marin was $110,217 for a family of 4 in 2018, representing an increase of 25.6% from the base year of 2009, as opposed to 2015, which showed a 6% increase from base year and with a median income at $93,257.

Number of Households Table

 

0-30% HAMFI[4]

>30-50% HAMFI

>50-80% HAMFI

>80-100% HAMFI

>100% HAMFI

Total Households

16,131

12,403

16,119

9,988

49,055

Small Family Households

4,136

3,717

5,345

3,624

24,318

Large Family Households

850

763

861

454

2,443

Household contains at least one person 62-74 years of age

3,905

3,062

4,397

2,684

13,243

Household contains at least one person age 75 or older

3,568

2,704

2,801

1,317

4,639

Households with one or more children 6 years old or younger

2,012

1,596

1,721

1,355

3,609

Table 6 - Total Households Table

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS








Housing Needs Summary Tables

1. Housing Problems (Households with one of the listed needs)

 

Renter

Owner

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

>80-100% AMI

Total

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

>80-100% AMI

Total

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

Substandard Housing - Lacking complete plumbing or kitchen facilities

485

275

184

19

963

85

44

45

0

174

Severely Overcrowded - With >1.51 people per room (and complete kitchen and plumbing)

563

295

280

49

1,187

55

30

10

10

105

Overcrowded - With 1.01-1.5 people per room (and none of the above problems)

693

434

328

89

1,544

35

60

44

40

179

Housing cost burden greater than 50% of income (and none of the above problems)

5,604

2,494

768

48

8,914

3,450

2,453

2,118

762

8,783

Housing cost burden greater than 30% of income (and none of the above problems)

939

2,170

3,274

718

7,101

806

1,258

1,921

2,138

6,123

Zero/negative Income (and none of the above problems)

543

0

0

0

543

334

0

0

0

334

using Problems Table

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

2. Housing Problems 2 (Households with one or more Severe Housing Problems: Lacks kitchen or complete plumbing, severe overcrowding, severe cost burden)

 

Renter

Owner

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

>80-100% AMI

Total

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

>80-100% AMI

Total

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

Having 1 or more of four housing problems

7,347

3,494

1,557

207

12,605

3,620

2,588

2,223

812

9,243

Having none of four housing problems

2,614

3,079

6,025

3,662

15,380

1,681

3,233

6,293

5,282

16,489

Household has negative income, but none of the other housing problems

543

0

0

0

543

334

0

0

0

334

Table 8 – Housing Problems 2

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

3. Cost Burden > 30%

 

Renter

Owner

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

Total

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

Total

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

Small Related

2,586

2,176

1,359

6,121

805

922

1,759

3,486

Large Related

654

414

75

1,143

100

169

240

509

Elderly

2,357

1,320

1,164

4,841

2,628

2,052

1,654

6,334

Other

2,438

1,495

1,603

5,536

778

635

457

1,870

Total need by income

8,035

5,405

4,201

17,641

4,311

3,778

4,110

12,199

Table 9 – Cost Burden > 30%

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

4. Cost Burden > 50%

 

Renter

Owner

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

Total

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

Total

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

Small Related

2,173

982

255

3,410

666

772

982

2,420

Large Related

550

34

10

594

100

109

78

287

Elderly

1,878

965

248

3,091

2,008

1,186

856

4,050

Other

2,148

730

300

3,178

709

400

232

1,341

Total need by income

6,749

2,711

813

10,273

3,483

2,467

2,148

8,098

    Table 10– Cost Burden > 50%

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

5. Crowding (More than one person per room)

 

Renter

Owner

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

>80-100% AMI

Total

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

>80-100% AMI

Total

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS

Single family households

1,151

478

439

144

2,212

75

55

29

50

209

Multiple, unrelated family households

100

234

130

0

464

15

50

25

0

90

Other, non-family households

55

25

54

10

144

0

0

0

0

0

Total need by income

1,306

737

623

154

2,820

90

105

54

50

299

Table 11 – Crowding Information – 1/2

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

 

 

Renter

Owner

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

Total

0-30% AMI

>30-50% AMI

>50-80% AMI

Total

Households with Children Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 12 – Crowding Information – 2/2 – the County does not maintain such data

Describe the number and type of single person households in need of housing assistance.

Approximately 30% of households in the County are composed of people living alone, significantly higher than the 23% recorded statewide[5].  The need for workforce housing for those at or below the 2018 median single person household income of $52,781 is critical.[6] In order to afford market rate rental housing in the county, it would require two incomes at the 80% AMI level. Particularly at risk are people with disabilities, families, members of the workforce, and older adults in the very low to low income range.

Estimate the number and type of families in need of housing assistance who are disabled or victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

The Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) estimates that there are approximately 46,029 people living with disabilities in the county. One quarter of people with disabilities in Marin live in poverty. In addition, 38% of individuals with disabilities are homeless or housing insecure.  MCIL serves 683 people with all types of disabilities (including older adults) in 2018 throughout Marin County; of these, over 60% were facing a lack of affordable accessible housing. Approximately 75% of their clients live under the poverty level.

The mental health division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services provided treatment services to 2,819 unduplicated people with Serious Mental Illness in FY18/19, including 2,187 adults. Approximately 597 people received housing assistance ranging from permanent supportive housing to short-term emergency housing. Anecdotally, mental health case managers report that the demand far exceeds the limited available supply of housing and services, and cost of housing continues to increase well in excess of the income of public mental health clients. Affordable housing is a major issue for their clients.

The Center for Domestic Peace (C4DP) estimates that it helps between 3,700 and 4,500 victims of domestic violence each year. During 2017/2018 C4DP received nearly 4,500 hotline calls and housed 435 adult and children victims of domestic violence. The 2019 Point in Time Count set the number of active domestic violence victims at 73 or 7% of the surveyed homeless population. Although, this data includes only those currently experiencing domestic violence or partner abuse, not those who have a history of domestic violence.

What are the most common housing problems?

The predominant housing problems in Marin County are cost, availability, and quality. There is a shortage of affordable rental housing including multi-family, single family, second units, and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units as well as smaller moderately priced ownership units for singles, older adults and lower income families. The median single-family home price is consistently over $1 million with median townhome or condominium prices reaching $698,279 in 2018[7].  Basic rentals are typically more than $2,000 a month- the median rental cost in 2018 was nearly $3,663 per month[8].  This leaves low-income workers priced out of the housing market, forcing them to double up in units or commute from lower priced housing market, which are increasingly further away from Marin County. In 2018 approximately 52% of renters and 26% of owners in Marin were paying more than 30% of their monthly income for housing[9]. These low-income residents are also more likely to live in and be relegated to poor quality housing. Housing quality refers to the habitability of a housing unit.  Habitability issues include, but are not limited to pest infestation; electrical, plumbing, and heating problems; and mold and dampness.  

There is great need for additional and substantially improved full-time housing for farm and ranch workers in West Marin. The Countywide Plan and Development Code limit multi-unit residential development in agricultural zones.  Another complicating factor is that a considerable amount of West Marin ranch land is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service which governs the Point Reyes National Seashore and whose purpose it is to limit human development in the natural environment. In this area, the problem is compounded because many of the existing single-family dwellings in the Bolinas, Point Reyes Station and Inverness areas are now used as second homes or short-term rentals. Anecdotal evidence ranks the number of homes used as full-time residences between 25%-45% of all existing homes in the Point Reyes Station and Inverness areas. According to the 2018 ACS, about 60% of housing units in the Point Reyes and Inverness area are occupied, compared to 93% of housing units in the whole County that are occupied.

Are any populations/household types more affected than others by these problems?

Due to historic and on-going discriminatory practices and government policies, members of protected classes, specifically people of color and those with disabilities, are more affected by the most common housing problems in Marin County, which include cost, availability, and quality. In addition, these individuals are less likely to have access to living in areas of opportunity in the County.

Over 60,000 workers commute from surrounding areas to work in Marin County because they are unable to find affordable housing in the County, according to Marin Economic Commission figures. These workers, who have an average annual salary of $59,400, are unable to find housing in the County due to a lack of housing options including multi-family rentals and SRO units.

The population of Marin is aging. While many older adults own their homes, often, they are over housed, because they cannot find affordable smaller and/or assisted housing alternatives. The 2016 census recorded more than 16,000 or 16% of households countywide were extremely low income[10]. These numbers include a growing number of older adults and those with mental or physical disabilities.

Describe the characteristics and needs of Low-income individuals and families with children (especially extremely low-income) who are currently housed but are at imminent risk of either residing in shelters or becoming unsheltered 91.205(c)/91.305(c)). Also discuss the needs of formerly homeless families and individuals who are receiving rapid re-housing assistance and are nearing the termination of that assistance

According to the 2020 Marin County Analysis of Impediments, in 2017:

9.2% of Marin’s total population had a disability. The average person with a disability needs 200% of their monthly Social Security income to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Marin. 

30.4% of households in Marin have children, with 23% living below two times the Federal poverty level and 712 students were experiencing homelessness.  

The County’s older adult population of residents age 60 and above totaled 70,063 which represents 27% of the total population. 5.4% of Marin’s 65+ population were living below the Federal poverty level and in some of the County’s wealthier communities. 

In addition, according to the 2020 Marin County Analysis of Impediments

The County’s 2015 Housing Element, there are an estimated 1,072 agricultural workers living in West Marin, and the majority of whom are not seasonal workers.  According to the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin’s (CLAM), a farm worker in Marin is likely to earn an annual salary of no more than $28,000.

According to the 2019 Point in Time Count and Survey, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Marin were 1,034, which represents a 7% decrease from 2017. However, these numbers do not include families and individuals without permeant housing who are “couch surfing” or staying temporarily with friends or family.

There are significant race-based income disparities in Marin County that directly impact access to housing and financial burden. In 2018, non-Hispanic Whites in Marin earned a median annual income of $121,310[11], while Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx residents earned roughly half that amount, at $66,316 and $64,367 respectively. With a median contract rent of about $2,072 a month in 2018[12], non-Hispanic Whites spend about 20% of their monthly income on rent, in comparison to 38% and 39% for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx residents, respectively.

There is a need for every type of affordable housing for extremely low-income persons and families. This need includes rental assistance to reduce severe cost burden, overcrowding, and enable people to obtain appropriate housing; group homes for people needing supervised living quarters; multifamily housing; accessible housing for people with physical disabilities and environmental sensitivities; emergency shelter for the homeless; emergency housing for individuals experiencing domestic violence; transitional housing for those at risk of becoming homeless; housing for the independent elderly, the frail elderly; and housing with support services for persons with mental illness, physical illness, or other disabilities.  In addition, housing code enforcement, housing counseling, mediation services for tenants and landlords, and fair housing enforcement are also priorities for serving extremely low-income persons.

This fact has been confirmed by Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data and the Marin Housing Authority (MHA) waiting list data, and in conversations with numerous nonprofit service providers.  There are active 793 applicants on the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 waitlist. Marin Housing Authority has housed 124 applicants from the waiting list over the past 24 months and currently there are 31 applicants searching for housing with an issued voucher. Most are struggling to find rental units with rents that fall within the payment standard and landlords willing to accept Section 8 vouchers. The Marin Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 waitlist opened in September 2008 and 11,200 applications were received. More than 6000 of the applicants were removed from the waiting list due to lack of current mailing address and/or non-eligibility.  Additionally, Marin Housing Authority has 734 applicants on the Public Housing waiting list that last opened in early 2013.

In its waiting list for assisted housing for the extremely low income, MHA applies local preferences by giving priority to those in following situations: 

  • Involuntarily Displaced Families;
  • Victims of Domestic Violence;
  • Victims of Natural Disasters;
  • Victims of Eminent Domain;
  • Participants in a witness protection program;
  • County residents who live, work (at least 32 hours per week), or have been hired
  • to work within the limits of Marin County;
  • Veterans or current military personnel and their families;
  • Families who are homeless or living in substandard conditions;
  • Chronically homeless;
  • Homeless;
  • Graduate of Supportive Housing programs;
  • Mainstream; non-senior disabled, currently homeless;
  • Family, elderly or disabled households;

Individuals and families receiving rapid re-housing that are nearing the end of their assistance often have an ongoing need for increased income, education/vocational training that could lead to higher paying employment, affordable childcare, ongoing budgeting and money management support. Linkages to community resources is especially important as the end of assistance approaches in order to assure that households are able to access the supports, they need to be self-sustaining in the future.

If a jurisdiction provides estimates of the at-risk population(s), it should also include a description of the operational definition of the at-risk group and the methodology used to generate the estimates:

About 9,943 (or 26%) of Marin renter households are severely rent-burdened and are considered an at-risk population[13]. Severely rent-burdened households are defined spending more than half of monthly income on rent.

Specify particular housing characteristics that have been linked with instability and an increased risk of homelessness

Housing characteristics most commonly linked with instability and an increased risk of homelessness include housing costs rising more quickly than wages, job loss and/or hours being cut back due to local emergencies and/or reduced demand for services, housing conditions, and tight housing market. In addition, those individuals and families that are living in over-crowded and/or doubled up housing and those who are extremely rent burdened are particularly vulnerable.

Discussion

This one-day Point In Time Count (PIT) provides valuable insight into the needs and demographics of the population experiencing homelessness and those at risk. Through the work and commitment of community partners, service providers and advocates, efforts to reduce the number of those experiencing homelessness may have contributed to the progress made. However, this Count does not provide a complete picture of those effected by housing instability and homelessness in Marin County.

As noted earlier, the Marin PIT Count does not include those “doubling-up” or couch surfing in their definition of homelessness. In fact, there are many families with children in Marin that experience this form of homelessness. For example, according to the California Department of Education, which utilizes the McKinney-Vento Act definition of homelessness of those that “lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence”, there has been an increase from 712 homeless youth in the 2017-18 academic year to 1,026 in the 2018-19 year[14]. According to Kidsdata[15], a program of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health there are racial disparities in which families are faced with this housing instability. In 2015-17, 97.6% of non-Hispanic White students lived with at their parent or guardian’s home, in comparison to 86.4% of Hispanic/Latinx students and 82.3% of Black/African American students. Additionally, while 0.1% of non-Hispanic White students live in a multiple-family household, 6.2% of Hispanic/Latinx students and 3.1% of Black/African American students live in a household with many families.

NA-15 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Problems – 91.205 (b)(2)

Assess the need of any racial or ethnic group that has disproportionately greater need in comparison to the needs of that category of need as a whole.

Introduction

Housing problems are defined as a household having any one of the following: a cost burden greater than 30% of income, more than one person per room, and/or housing without complete kitchen or plumbing facilities. Disproportionately greater need exists when the percentage of persons in a category of need, who are members of a particular racial or ethnic group, is at least ten percentage points higher than the percentage of persons in the category as a whole.

0%-30% of Area Median Income

Housing Problems

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

12,727

2,562

877

White

8,444

1,907

628

Black / African American

424

65

24

Asian

625

60

58

American Indian, Alaska Native

115

0

4

Pacific Islander

34

0

0

Hispanic

2,760

379

95

Table 13- Disproportionally Greater Need 0 - 30% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 30%

30%-50% of Area Median Income

Housing Problems*

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

9,533

2,887

0

White

6,683

2,380

0

Black / African American

164

40

0

Asian

454

163

0

American Indian, Alaska Native

15

0

0

Pacific Islander

0

0

0

Hispanic

2,035

273

0

     Table 14 - Disproportionally Greater Need 30 - 50% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 30%

50%-80% of Area Median Income

Housing Problems

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

8,961

7,121

0

White

6,705

5,705

0

Black / African American

272

100

0

Asian

498

421

0

American Indian, Alaska Native

10

0

0

Pacific Islander

35

50

0

Hispanic

1,142

696

0

Table 15 - Disproportionally Greater Need 50 - 80% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 30%

80%-100% of Area Median Income

Housing Problems

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

3,870

6,089

0

White

3,270

5,134

0

Black / African American

100

68

0

Asian

140

316

0

American Indian, Alaska Native

0

0

0

Pacific Islander

0

10

0

Hispanic

334

414

0

Table 16 - Disproportionally Greater Need 80 - 100% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 30%

Discussion

This section discusses the income categories in which a racial or ethnic group has a disproportionately greater need.

0-30% AMI: All groups have relatively high rates of housing problems in this income category, but no single group experiences a disproportionately high rate of need relative to the jurisdiction as a whole (apart from Pacific Islander and American Indian, Alaska Native households, both of which experience higher rates than the jurisdiction as a whole, but the total numbers are too low to accurately assess disproportionate needs). At this income level, 79% of households experience at least one of the four identified housing problem.

30-50% AMI: In this income category, while all groups again have relatively high rates of housing problems, the Hispanic/Latinx community experiences disproportionately greater need: 88% of Hispanic/Latinx residents experiences at least one of four housing problems, in comparison to 77% of the jurisdiction.

50-80% AMI: In this income category, the Black/African American community experiences disproportionately greater need: 73% of Black/African American residents experiences at least one of four housing problems, in comparison to 56% of the jurisdiction.

80-100% AMI: In this income category, the Black/African American community experiences disproportionately greater need: 60% of Black/African American residents experiences at least one of four housing problems, in comparison to 39% of the jurisdiction.

NA-20 Disproportionately Greater Need: Severe Housing Problems – 91.205 (b)(2)

Assess the need of any racial or ethnic group that has disproportionately greater need in comparison to the needs of that category of need as a whole.

Introduction

This section discusses severe housing needs as defined by HUD, using HUD-prepared housing needs data. The tables show the number of Denver households that have severe housing needs by income, race, and ethnicity. Needs are defined as one or more of the following housing problems: 1. Housing lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Housing lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. Household has more than 1.5 persons per room, 4. Household cost burden exceeds 50 percent.

0%-30% of Area Median Income

Severe Housing Problems*

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

10,967

4,295

877

White

7,243

3,075

628

Black / African American

319

170

24

Asian

459

225

58

American Indian, Alaska Native

100

15

4

Pacific Islander

34

0

0

Hispanic

2,596

538

95

Table 17 – Severe Housing Problems 0 - 30% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 50%

30%-50% of Area Median Income

Severe Housing Problems*

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

6,082

6,312

0

White

4,266

4,781

0

Black / African American

119

90

0

Asian

234

388

0

American Indian, Alaska Native

4

10

0

Pacific Islander

0

0

0

Hispanic

1,380

928

0

Table 18 – Severe Housing Problems 30 - 50% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 50%

50%-80% of Area Median Income

Severe Housing Problems*

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

3,780

12,318

0

White

2,670

9,768

0

Black / African American

15

359

0

Asian

219

702

0

American Indian, Alaska Native

0

10

0

Pacific Islander

0

85

0

Hispanic

724

1,114

0

Table 19 – Severe Housing Problems 50 - 80% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 50%

80%-100% of Area Median Income

Severe Housing Problems*

Has one or more of four housing problems

Has none of the four housing problems

Household has no/negative income, but none of the other housing problems

Jurisdiction as a whole

1,019

8,944

0

White

825

7,583

0

Black / African American

10

158

0

Asian

49

407

0

American Indian, Alaska Native

0

0

0

Pacific Islander

0

10

0

Hispanic

115

633

0

Table 20 – Severe Housing Problems 80 - 100% AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

* The four housing problems are:  1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than one person per room, 4. Cost Burden greater than 50%

Discussion

This section discusses the income categories in which a racial or ethnic group has a disproportionately greater need.

0-30% AMI: All groups have relatively high rates of severe housing problems in this income category, but the Hispanic/Latinx community experiences disproportionate greater need: 80% of Hispanic/Latinx residents experience at least one of the four severe housing problems, in comparison to 68% of the jurisdiction. Again, here the Pacific Islander and American Indian, Alaska Native households also experiences higher rates than the jurisdiction as a whole, but the total numbers are too low to accurately assess disproportionate needs.

30-50% AMI: In this income category, Hispanic/Latinx community experiences disproportionately greater need: 60% of Hispanic/Latinx residents experiences at least one of four severe housing problems, in comparison to 49% of the jurisdiction.

50-80% AMI: In this income category, the Hispanic/Latinx community experiences disproportionately greater need: 39% of Hispanic/Latinx residents experiences at least one of four housing problems, in comparison to 23% of the jurisdiction.

80-100% AMI: In this income category, 10% of the jurisdiction as a whole experience at least one of four severe housing problems. No single racial/ethnic group experiences a disproportionately high rate of need relative to the jurisdiction as a whole.

NA-25 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Cost Burdens – 91.205 (b)(2)

Assess the need of any racial or ethnic group that has disproportionately greater need in comparison to the needs of that category of need as a whole.

Introduction:

This section provides data on households with disproportionate levels of housing cost burden. Housing cost burden occurs when households pay more than 30 percent of their gross household income toward housing costs, which includes utilities. Severe housing cost burden occurs when housing costs are 50 percent or more of gross household income. 

Housing Cost Burden

Housing Cost Burden

<=30%

30-50%

>50%

No / negative income (not computed)

Jurisdiction as a whole

62,106

20,259

20,401

915

White

53,119

15,492

15,218

648

Black / African American

757

563

414

24

Asian

3,014

1,036

894

58

American Indian, Alaska Native

34

35

104

4

Pacific Islander

70

35

34

0

Hispanic

4,014

2,647

3,300

95

Table 21 – Greater Need: Housing Cost Burdens AMI

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

Discussion:

This section discusses the income categories in which a racial or ethnic group has a disproportionately greater need.

Rent-Burden (30-50%): Black/African American residents experience a disproportionate cost burden in comparison to the jurisdiction as a whole: 32% of Black/African American residents are rent-burdened, while 20% of the jurisdiction is rent-burdened.

Severe Rent-Burden (50%+): Hispanic/Latinx residents experience a disproportionate severe cost burden in comparison to the jurisdiction as a whole: 33% of Hispanic/Latinx residents are severely rent-burdened, while 20% of the jurisdiction is severely rent-burdened. Additionally, American Indian, Alaska Native residents also show a higher rate in those severely rent-burdened than the jurisdiction as a whole, but the total numbers are too low to accurately assess disproportionate needs.

NA-30 Disproportionately Greater Need: Discussion – 91.205(b)(2)

Are there any Income categories in which a racial or ethnic group has disproportionately greater need than the needs of that income category as a whole?

As discussed previously, disproportionately high needs exist for Hispanic/Latinx and Black/African American communities.

Differences in housing needs by race and ethnicity can also be assessed by differences in homeownership and experiences finding housing. As indicated in the County’s AI, homeownership rates for Hispanic/Latinx and Black/African American residents are substantially lower than for non-Hispanic white: while 70.1% of non-Hispanic White Marin residents are homeowners, 25.3% and 29.3% of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx residents are homeowners, respectively.

If they have needs not identified above, what are those needs?

The needs of the Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx community differ. Marin City, the County’s historic African American community, has experienced increasing displacement pressures that have been in effect since at least the 1980s. According to a UC Berkeley report on Marin City published in 2015[16], while African American residents made up 76% of the population in this community in 1980, this number has decreased to 27% in 2018.

In the Canal neighborhood which has a higher percentage of Latinx households and recent immigrants; many families and individuals have relied on cohabitating in order to maintain housing affordability. The proportion of households experiencing overcrowding in this community, which is defined as more than one occupant per room, has increased dramatically over the past decade. In 2010, 28% of Canal residents experienced overcrowding, which has increased to 53% in 2018.

There are a significant number of families supported by service industry jobs who often cannot afford to live in the County at all, with many living in lower-cost areas outside Marin County, resulting in commute times exceeding 60 minutes each way.

Are any of those racial or ethnic groups located in specific areas or neighborhoods in your community?

Areas of racial and ethnic concentration include the Canal neighborhood of the City of San Rafael (census tracts 1122.01 and 1122.02). The Canal is home to the largest concentration of low-income Hispanic/Latinx families. Here rental units tend to be moderately priced and bus transit is available.  The Canal area has a very high degree of overcrowding (defined as over one person per room).  According to the 2018 ACS, in the Canal area (Census Tract 1122.01 and 1122.02), 53% of households were overcrowded, compared to only 4% of households in Marin County as a whole. 

In addition, Marin City (census tract 1290), an unincorporated community in Marin County is home to the County’s historical Black/African American community. Marin City has traditionally had a high concentration of African American residents, but recent census figures show that Black/African American population has experienced sharp declines, making up approximately 27% of the area's population.

NA-35 Public Housing – 91.205(b)

Introduction

Marin County is served by one housing authority, the Housing Authority of the County of Marin (MHA). MHA is a public corporation authorized to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low income people. With approximately 500 public housing units, over 2,100 Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holders, and over 300 Project Based vouchers located at 21 different properties in Marin. MHA is the primary source of housing for very low-income households in Marin County.

Established in 1942, receives nearly all of its $53+ million operating income from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and tenant-paid rents. Private housing market factors combined with a lack of federal funding for public housing create extra challenges for housing authorities. The data tables below show the current inventory of federally funded housing in Marin and the populations served.

In Marin County, a large number of low income African American/Black families live in public housing in Marin City. In MHA’s 300 units of family housing, 56% of residents are African American/Black families. This creates a situation where it appears that fewer lower income African American/Black families with housing problems than Hispanic/Latinx families, as defined by the provisions provided by HUD. However, the African American/Black public housing community faces other significant social problems, particularly related to unemployment and education largely due to historical patterns of discrimination and government policies that divested resources from the community.

 Totals in Use

Program Type

 

Certificate

Mod-Rehab

Public Housing

Vouchers

Total

Project -based

Tenant -based

Special Purpose Voucher

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Family Unification Program

Disabled

*

# of units vouchers in use

0

0

471

2,106

29

2,034

20

0

0

Table 22 - Public Housing by Program Type

*includes Non-Elderly Disabled, Mainstream One-Year, Mainstream Five-year, and Nursing Home Transition

Data Source:

PIC (PIH Information Center)

 Characteristics of Residents

 

Program Type

 

Certificate

Mod-Rehab

Public Housing

Vouchers

Total

Project -based

Tenant -based

Special Purpose Voucher

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Family Unification Program

Average Annual Income

0

0

13,765

16,094

18,663

15,812

12,123

0

Average length of stay

0

0

9

9

3

9

0

0

Average Household size

0

0

1

1

3

1

1

0

# Homeless at admission

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

# of Elderly Program Participants (>62)

0

0

159

669

2

653

8

0

# of Disabled Families

0

0

138

749

9

724

9

0

# of Families requesting accessibility features

0

0

471

2,106

29

2,034

20

0

# of HIV/AIDS program participants

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

# of DV victims

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Table 23 – Characteristics of Public Housing Residents by Program Type

Data Source:

PIC (PIH Information Center)

 Race of Residents

Program Type

Race

Certificate

Mod-Rehab

Public Housing

Vouchers

Total

Project -based

Tenant -based

Special Purpose Voucher

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Family Unification Program

Disabled

*

White

0

0

207

1,512

22

1,460

15

0

0

Black/African American

0

0

212

373

5

362

5

0

0

Asian

0

0

41

189

2

182

0

0

0

American Indian/Alaska Native

0

0

5

27

0

25

0

0

0

Pacific Islander

0

0

6

5

0

5

0

0

0

Other

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

*includes Non-Elderly Disabled, Mainstream One-Year, Mainstream Five-year, and Nursing Home Transition

Table 24 – Race of Public Housing Residents by Program Type

Data Source:

PIC (PIH Information Center)

Ethnicity of Residents

Program Type

Ethnicity

Certificate

Mod-Rehab

Public Housing

Vouchers

Total

Project -based

Tenant -based

Special Purpose Voucher

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Family Unification Program

Disabled

*

Hispanic

0

0

58

266

9

253

1

0

0

Not Hispanic

0

0

413

1,840

20

1,781

19

0

0

 

*includes Non-Elderly Disabled, Mainstream One-Year, Mainstream Five-year, and Nursing Home Transition

Table 25 – Ethnicity of Public Housing Residents by Program Type

Data Source:

PIC (PIH Information Center)

Section 504 Needs Assessment: Describe the needs of public housing tenants and applicants on the waiting list for accessible units:

As of October 2018, 274 elderly applicants and 455 families with disabilities were on the MHA waiting list for public housing. Currently, 15% of units at the five elderly/disabled complexes managed by the Marin Housing Authority are handicapped accessible.  In addition to the handicapped accessible units, at two of the complexes, Venetia Oaks and Homestead Terrace, the Marin Housing Authority has made additional handicapped improvements to 84 units, by installing grab bars in bathrooms and installing hot water valves that prevent scalding.  Given the age of the housing portfolio, appropriate accessibility improvements are not always present. Tenant needs include wheelchair accessibility, bathroom grab bars, lowered kitchen cabinetry, and accessible door and window handles, among other things. 

The Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) estimates that over 46,000 persons in Marin County have disabilities, and this number will increase significantly since older adults are the fastest growing segment of the County’s population

Most immediate needs of residents of Public Housing and Housing Choice voucher holders

The MHA Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing wait lists are both closed, however, there are provisions that allow placement on the lists given certain situations. As of October 2018, there were 1,053 households on the public housing wait list. In its lease-up of vacant units, MHA prioritizes homeless households and households involuntarily displaced.

Immediate needs for Public Housing include family, non-elderly disabled, senior, and veteran housing units. Considering the high cost of living in Marin County and its history of segregation, there is significant need for affordable housing to be located away from existing areas of concentrated poverty in the County.

Immediate needs for Housing Choice Voucher holders are adding vouchers and increasing the number of private housing providers to make their units available to voucher holders. Although state and local policies have made it illegal to discriminate against a Housing Choice Voucher holder, the practice of discrimination is ongoing.   

How do these needs compare to the housing needs of the population at large?

Considering the extraordinarily high cost of living in Marin County, even residents of the jurisdiction that are not currently eligible for, or participating in, one the MHA’s affordable housing programs are facing difficulty in affording quality housing.

Discussion

Due to the ongoing reductions by HUD to maintain public housing and the growing infrastructure needs at MHA’s family public housing site, Golden Gate Village, MHA is working to transition the 300 units at the site from public housing to Section 8 using Section 18 conversion.

NA-40 Homeless Needs Assessment – 91.205(c)

Introduction:

Every two years, during the last 10 days of January, Marin county along with communities across the country conduct comprehensive counts of the local homeless populations in order to measure the prevalence of homelessness in each local Continuum of Care. The 2019 Marin County Point-in-Time Count was a community-wide effort conducted on January 28th, 2019. The figures below result from the 2019 survey and housing records supplied by county agencies.

Population

Estimate the # of persons
experiencing homelessness on a given night

Estimate the #
experiencing
homelessness
each year*

Estimate
the #
becoming
homeless
each year*

Estimate the
# exiting
homelessness
each year*

Estimate the #
of days
persons
experience
homelessness*

Unsheltered

Sheltered

Persons in Households with Adult(s) and Child(ren)

13

17

-

-

-

-

Persons in Households with Only Children

0

8

-

-

-

-

Persons in Households with Only Adults

196

683

-

-

-

-

Chronically Homeless Individuals

84

165

-

-

-

-

Chronically Homeless Families

1

1

-

-

-

-

Veterans

19

8

-

-

-

-

Unaccompanied Youth

6

71

-

-

-

-

Persons with HIV

4

2

-

-

-

-

Table 26 – Homeless Needs Assessment

* Currently, the County only has access to overall numbers:
Estimate the # experiencing homelessness each year – 1,034 (based on 2019 PIT count)
Estimate the # becoming homeless each year – 543 (System Performance Measure 5.2)
Estimate the # exiting homelessness each year – 199 (System Performance Measure 7b.1)
Estimate the # of days persons experience homelessness – 764 days (System Performance Measure 1.2)

For persons in rural areas who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, describe the nature and extent of unsheltered and sheltered homelessness with the jurisdiction: 

The County does not collect demographic information specific to its rural areas. The remoteness of many areas of West Marin make it difficult to collect this data. Other than shelter offered by local churches or mobile units that pick up homeless people in inclement weather and take them to the more populated areas of the County for emergency shelter there are no emergency or transitional housing facilities in West Marin.

If data is not available for the categories "number of persons becoming and exiting homelessness each year," and "number of days that persons experience homelessness," describe these categories for each homeless population type (including chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth):

The 2019 Point in Time Count showed the following breakdown for length of time individuals spend homeless in Marin county:
1 week or less   - 4%
8-30 days - 3%
1-6 months - 16%
7-11 months - 8%
1+ years - 70%

Nature and Extent of Homelessness: (Optional)

Race:

Sheltered:

Unsheltered (optional)

White

-

-

Black or African American

-

-

Asian

-

-

American Indian or Alaska Native

-

-

Pacific Islander

-

-

Ethnicity:

Sheltered:

Unsheltered (optional)

Hispanic

-

-

Not Hispanic

-

-

Table 27 – Homelessness by Race and Ethnicity

Estimate the number and type of families in need of housing assistance for families with children and the families of veterans.

During the 2019 Point in Time Count, 54 households with children age 18 or under were counted, including 61 adults and 81 kids (147 individuals). This is compared to 2017, when only 75 households with children were counted. Nearly half (44%) of Marin’s families with children experiencing homelessness identified as Latino/Hispanic; 67% identified as white (+5% since 2017); 22% identified as Black/African American (+5% since 2017) and 3% identified as Asian (-2% since 2017).

Most families reported the following reasons for homelessness: lack of affordable housing, no income/loss of job, alcohol/drug issues, or end of a relationship. 90% of Marin’s families experiencing homelessness reside in shelters or transitional housing programs (66 households).

The Point in Time Count provides a considerable undercount of households with children age 18 or under due to the rigid definition of homeless it utilizes.

Describe the Nature and Extent of Homelessness by Racial and Ethnic Group.

While white individuals comprise 67% of the homeless population, this percentage is vastly below the white share of the overall population in Marin in 2019, at 85%. This is because people of color are disproportionally represented in the count of persons experiencing homelessness, particularly African Americans. For example, the percentage of individuals experiencing homelessness that are Black/African American was 10 times that of the overall population in Marin in 2019 (22% vs. 2.8%). Additionally, the percentage of individuals that are Hispanic/Latinx was 44%-- compared to 16.1% in Marin overall during the same time period.

Describe the Nature and Extent of Unsheltered and Sheltered Homelessness.

The 2019 Point in Time count report showed 38% (360) of all homeless adults counted having at least one type of disabling condition, such as a physical or developmental disability, chronic illness, or a substance use disorder. 62% of these individuals with disabling conditions are unsheltered, while 38% live in emergency or transitional housing. Health issues are not atypical to the population experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is a traumatic event which can cause both physical and psychological difficulties. The lack of medical insurance and access to housing can exacerbate problems which could much more easily be managed with housing.

Discussion:

The needs of the homeless population and an outline of ways to address them are contained in the report, A Response to Homelessness in Marin County: Assessing the Need & Taking Action (2019). Ultimately, the community has identified the following priorities and goals through a series of stakeholder discussions:

  • End Chronic and Veteran Homelessness in Marin County by 2022
  • Create Additional Permanent Housing Opportunities to Address Needs of the Most Vulnerable
  • Maintain and Enhance Fidelity to the Principles of Housing First
  • Improve and Expand Data Sharing Capacity to Provide Comprehensive, Coordinated Care to Persons Experiencing Homelessness

In order to carry out these goals, the county has committed to several action steps. These include: a) continuing to create more scattered-site permanent housing opportunities, b) continuing to prioritize Housing First practices, and c) working regionally to coordinate efforts with neighboring counties—among several others.

NA-45 Non-Homeless Special Needs Assessment - 91.205 (b,d)

Introduction:

Non-homeless special needs populations include households containing persons with a disability (hearing/vision limitation, ambulatory limitation, cognitive limitation or self-care/independent living limitation), elderly households, large families, female headed households with children, limited English proficient households, and those at risk of homelessness

Describe the characteristics of special needs populations in your community:

Residents of any age, especially those of limited incomes, facing a wide variety of challenges, including those with physical, cognitive and/or behavioral health issues; elders; at-risk youth; victims of violence; veterans; people in need of long term care to live in the community, rather than in institutions, persons with limited English proficiency, persons who are unemployed or underemployed or at risk of homelessness and those with special barriers, such as criminal backgrounds, that make accessing housing and employment more difficult. While the County’s largest growing population is the elderly, due to the limited supply of adequately sized units to accommodate larger households, large families often face significant difficulty in locating adequately sized, affordable housing. In addition, female-headed households can have lower incomes and higher living expenses and may lack the resources needed for adequate childcare or job training services, often making the search for affordable, decent, and safe housing more difficult. 

What are the housing and supportive service needs of these populations and how are these needs determined?  

The housing and supportive service needs of the non-homeless special needs populations vary by the population and circumstance. There is the ongoing need for programs for ensuring that persons with disabilities and/or returning from mental and physical health institutions receive appropriate housing with supportive services. There is the need for assistance to allow older adults to age in place and to provide transportation options as well as the need for additional multi-family housing units affordable to and for older adults and assisted living facilities. There is the need for accessible housing that is affordable to lower-income persons, and appropriately located near public transportation and with access to supportive services. Services needed can include income supports and assistance with basic needs like food and clothing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, care for chronic medical conditions, trauma services, emergency assistance to prevent homelessness, legal assistance, skills training, employment, childcare and ESL classes. 

Needs are determined through information gathered by County departments, nonprofit partners, and community outreach conducted to inform the AI and Consolidated Plan.

Discuss the size and characteristics of the population with HIV/AIDS and their families within the Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area:

In Marin County, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has reached virtually all racial and ethnic groups.  Yet, data shows the largest proportion of AIDS cases is among gay white men with the second highest racial or ethnic group being Latinx/Hispanic.   The vast majority of people with HIV/AIDS in Marin County live alone or with another adult.  A relatively small number of people with HIV/AIDS live with dependents.  However, anecdotal information about the housing needs of families that include an adult living with AIDS suggests that they face more severe housing affordability problems than people living with AIDS who do not have children.

Since the first Marin County AIDS case was reported in 1982, 1,442 people have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in Marin County - 607 of whom are still living. In 2016-17 there were 38 new cases, with the average number being 18 annually over the previous 10 years[17].

Of the people living with AIDS/HIV in Marin, 85% are Male, 14% are female, and 1% are transgender; 63% are White, 22% are Hispanic/Latino, 8% are Black/African American, 3% are Asian, 2% are multiple races, and 1% is Native Hawaiian/Pacific islander; 1% are between the ages of 15-24, 8% are between the ages of 25-34, 12% are between the ages of 35-44, 27% are between the ages of 45-54, 33% are between the ages of 55-64, 16% are between the ages of 65-74, and with 3% over the age of 75[18].

Discussion:

The County of Marin works with The Spahr Center, the only nonprofit HIV/AIDS community provider in the County. The Spahr Center assists individuals and families dealing with HIV/AIDS to access services including medical, housing case management, benefits advocacy, counseling, psychiatric evaluation, emergency financial assistance, linkage with other services, support groups and a food pantry. As the population demographics of those living with HIV/AIDS changes so has the outreach required to serve the community. The Spahr Center provides all services available in English and Spanish.

NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs – 91.215 (f)

Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Facilities:

The availability of public facilities greatly influences the general appeal and function of Marin's communities. Support for facilities that provide services to the homeless, the disabled, children and youth, older adults or other populations is necessary for a healthy community. 

Top needs for public facilities include improved community centers for all age ranges, social groups, and needs, including childcare facilities, youth centers, senior centers, LGBTQ centers, as well as homeless shelters/facilities.

Marin City, a community of minority concentration, prioritizes homeless facilities/shelters, community gardens, and improvements to nonprofit facilities.

West Marin, Marin’s rural and agricultural community, prioritizes a need for community facilities across age groups and needs, including homeless shelters/facilities, and childcare centers and older adult centers.

The Spanish speaking community which has a large population in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael, pinpointed the need for youth centers, childcare centers, and the need for accessible facilities for persons with disabilities.

How were these needs determined?

These needs were determined through review and analysis of extensive community engagement over the course of six months. The outreach utilized 4 methodologies to reach different community stakeholders and included community meetings, focus groups, surveys, and interviews.  

Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Improvements:

The availability of quality public amenities is vital to maintaining quality neighborhoods 

Low-income neighborhoods, which in Marin are also communities of minority concentration, typically have less adequate infrastructure in place, so more assistance to address issues including block beautification, parks and playgrounds, adequate parking, elimination of slum and blight is necessary, and adequate infrastructure to address natural disasters.

Top needs for public improvements include well-maintained parks, public spaces, and informal community gathering spaces; transportation infrastructure improvements related to transit route frequency and reliability; safety measures such as adequate sidewalks and lighting were noted; and improving infrastructure to withstand natural disasters such as sea level rise, earthquakes, and wildfires.

Marin City, a community of minority concentration, prioritizes more community gardens and outdoor gathering spaces. In addition, Marin City has public infrastructure needs that greatly impact resident’s ability to access basic services. For example, Phillips Drive a roadway and sidewalk that connects residents with the community center, health clinic, primary school, and public safety services is in dire needs of improvements.

The Spanish speaking community which has a large population in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael, highlights the overall need around improved or new community gathering spaces, especially for youth in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael and improved parking in the Canal. In addition, a growing concern by residents, advocates, and the City of San Rafael is ensuring the infrastructure to protect against flooding and sea-level rise is adequate. 

In light of several years of wildfire caused by deteriorating power lines, the local public utility, PG&E, has instituted Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). During a PSPS, a community loses all power and in some cases access to natural gas. In 2019, two PSPS events affected Marin City, leaving low-income, vulnerable residents without power for a total of nearly two weeks combined. The entire County lost power during one PSPS event, leaving some resident without power for upwards of a week. From these incidents it has become clear that cell-towers need back-up generator power. Community charging stations were well utilized in the last PSPS, therefore an increase in community charging stations is needed.  

How were these needs determined?

These needs were determined through review and analysis of extensive community engagement over the course of six months. The outreach utilized 4 methodologies to reach different community stakeholders and included community meetings, focus groups, surveys, and interviews.  

Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Services:

Public services needs are diverse and speak to the broad safety net required for low-income residents to survive and thrive in a high cost community like Marin County. One of the key broad categories of service identified is homeless services that benefits those who are homeless and in danger of becoming homeless. Due to the wide range of demographics that face homelessness the services needed to support these individuals and families is vast. Some of the most common identified needs include housing support services; legal services; services for families including children’s services and parent support services; basic health services for all age ranges, senior services, services for domestic violence survivors, and access to food. In addition, language acquisition and education along with job training and microenterprise business are identified public service needs.  

Marin City, West Marin, and the Spanish speaking communities’ priorities follow a similar trend to the County as a whole with slight variations. Marin City’s also specifies a need for food security and employment readiness are highlighted. West Marin expressed a need related to mental health services and fair housing activities. Spanish speaking residents highlight a need children’s services, basic health services, fair housing activities, homelessness services, and housing support services. It is critical to note that many survey respondents in Spanish indicated that they are a one income household, largely due to the high cost of childcare. 

How were these needs determined?

These needs were determined through review and analysis of extensive community engagement over the course of six months. The outreach utilized 4 methodologies to reach different community stakeholders and included community meetings, focus groups, surveys, and interviews.  


[1] Out of Reach 2019. National Low-Income Housing Coalition. https://reports.nlihc.org/oor and 2019. “Marin remains among most expensive US counties to rent”. Marin Independent Journal. https://www.marinij.com/2019/06/20/marin-named-most-expensive-county-to-rent-a-home/

[2] Contract rent is defined as the dollar amount of rental obligation that is specified in lease.

[3] Occupancy rate was determined by subtracting the homeowner and rental vacancy rates from 100.

[4] HAMFI is HUD Area Median Family Income

[5] 2013-2018 ACS Table B11016, 5-year estimates

[6] 2013-2018 ACS Table B19019, 5-year estimates

[7] Zillow Condo/Co-Op Time Series 2018

[8] Zillow Rental Time Series (includes SFR, Condos and Multi Family) 2018

[9] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP04

[10] 2012-2016 CHAS

[11] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1903

[12] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25058

[13] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25070

[14]  California Department of Education

[15] Kidsdata.org is a program of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. It promotes the health and well-being of children in California by providing an easy to use resource that offers high-quality, wide-ranging, local data to those who work on behalf of children.

[16] 2015. UC Berkeley Center for Community Innovation. “Marin City: Historic African-American Enclave At Risk”. https://www.urbandisplacement.org/sites/default/files/marin_city_final.pdf.

[17] & [18] Updated data from 2018 County of Marin Fact Sheet

Housing Market Analysis

Housing Market Analysis

MA-05 Overview

Housing Market Analysis Overview:

In Marin, housing affordability is a common issue that has affected many Marin residents, across the rental and homeownership housing markets. The lack of affordable housing and its effects is apparent throughout the Bay Area and the State of California.

Survey data that was collected as part of outreach for this Consolidated Plan demonstrates the pervasive need for more affordable housing in Marin: about 71% of respondents indicated the need for more construction of affordable housing, and approximately 70% indicated limited availability of affordable housing as their greatest barrier. According to 2018 ACS data, 52% of renters in Marin and 26% of owners in Marin were considered housing-burdened, meaning they spent over 30% of their income on housing.

In addition, low-income households and residents of color, particularly the Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx community, face greater housing problems and financial burden than non-Hispanic White households. Additionally, residents of color continue to face low rates of homeownership in comparison to non-Hispanic White residents.

Across the county, there is increasing divergence between rents and incomes: while the median renter income in Marin has increased by 26% from 2011 to 2018, the median rent has increased by 45%.[1]

Rental Housing

Lower income renters face a greater affordability gap in housing, which is defined as the difference between affordable rent and market-rate rent. According to HUD standards, renters earning 50% AMI, or $80,600 for a four-person household, should pay 30% of their gross household income on rent, which equates to $2,015 for a 3-bedroom rental. The current market-rate rent for a 3-bedroom in Marin County is more than double that at $4,153. The following table details this gap for extremely-low-, very-low-, and low-income households.

 

30% AMI

50% AMI

80% AMI

Number BRs

Fair Market Rent, 2019

Affordable Rent

Gap

Affordable Rent

Gap

Affordable Rent

Gap

Studio

$2,069

$846

($1,223)

$1,411

($658)

$2,261

$192

1 BR

$2,561

$968

($1,593)

$1,613

($948)

$2,584

$23

2 BR

$3,170

$1,089

($2,081)

$1,814

($1,356)

$2,906

($264)

3 BR

$4,153

$1,209

($2,944)

$2,015

($2,138)

$3,229

($924)

4 BR

$4,392

$1,306

($3,086)

$2,176

($2,216)

$3,488

($904)

Table 28: Rental Housing Affordability in Marin by Income Level

Data Source:

2019 HUD Income and Rent Limits

While this data shows that those earning 80% AMI do not present an affordability gap with market-rate rents for all bedroom categories, the lack of availability of rentals in Marin attributes to a tightened housing market and less rental inventory, making the rental market extremely competitive. Currently, rental housing makes up roughly 36% of Marin’s housing, and holds a vacancy rate of 2.5%, lower than most parts of the Bay Area: San Francisco County has a rental vacancy rate of 3.2%, Sonoma County is 3.0%, and Contra Costa is 3.9%[2]. Additionally, the median household incomes in Marin are some of the highest in the State, but do not reflect the incomes of a large number of renters in the County who have a lower median income than the County as a whole. According to the 2018 ACS, the median household income of renters was $69,047[3] . In time, Marin’s median income has skewed upward, largely due to the fact that more wealthy people are able to afford living in Marin, while low and moderate-income households are priced out.

Insufficient Rental Housing for Vulnerable Populations

As noted previously, the rental housing stock in Marin County is not sufficient to house larger households: while 19% of the County is comprised of households over four people, only 6% of Marin’s housing stock has four or more bedrooms to adequately accommodate the needs of this population.

Additionally, there is increasing discrepancy between rents and incomes, which makes renting in Marin without some type of affordability restrictions prohibitive. This divergence is only larger for more vulnerable populations. While the median family income in Marin County was $118,400 in 2018 ($136,800 in 2019), about 1,800 families (about 6%) fell below the federal poverty line, earning less than $24,000 a year for a family of four[4]. Additionally, 63% of families in poverty are renters[5]. In Marin’s two largest low-income communities of the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael and Marin City, nearly a quarter of families fell below the federal poverty line[6]. Many of these families spend well above 30% of their income on rent: in fact, many families in these communities are considered “severely rent-burdened,” with 42% of renters in the Canal and 33% of renters in Marin City spending more than half of their income on rent[7]

Ownership Housing

The majority of Marin’s housing stock is made up of single-family homes (63%). Similarly, the majority of the housing stock is occupied by its owner (64%). However, homeownership is becoming increasingly unattainable for low- and moderate-income households.

In 2018, the median sale price of a single-family residence was $1,183,816[8]. Assuming a 20% down payment of $236,763 and approval of a 30-year fixed mortgage with an interest rate of 4.6%, purchasing a home in 2018 would have required an annual income of over $275,000.

In 2018, the median sales price of a condo or townhouse was $698,279[9]. Assuming a 20% down payment of $139,655 and approval of a 30-year fixed mortgage with an interest rate of 4.6%, purchasing a home in 2018 would have required an annual income of over $160,000. This calculation does not factor in HOA fees or special assessments. In 2018, the median income of owner-occupied households was $142,545[10].

Additionally, Marin continues to experience the effects of exclusionary housing policies, as seen by racial disparities in homeownership in the county. In 2018, while 69% of non-Hispanic White residents were homeowners, 29% of Hispanic/Latinx residents and 29% of Black/African American residents were homeowners[11].

MA-10 Number of Housing Units – 91.210(a)&(b)(2)

Introduction

Marin’s housing stock is largely composed of single-family homes with over 110,000 units by the end of 2018. Approximately 78% of the existing housing stock throughout the County were built prior to 1980. Nearly two-thirds of Marin’s housing is owner occupied with three or more bedrooms, whereas renter occupied housing tends to be smaller in size, with about 76% of all units containing two bedrooms or less[12].

All residential properties by number of units

Property Type

Number

%

1-unit detached structure

69,990

63%

1-unit, attached structure

9,256

8%

2-4 units

8,683

8%

5-19 units

11,748

10%

20 or more units

10,238

9%

Mobile Home, boat, RV, van, etc.

2,045

2%

Total

111,960

100%

Table 29 – Residential Properties by Unit Number

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

Unit Size by Tenure

 

Owners

Renters

Number

%

Number

%

No bedroom

169

< 1%

2,436

6%

1 bedroom

2,105

3%

12,238

31%

2 bedrooms

11,636

18%

14,553

37%

3 or more bedrooms

50,780

78%

9,679

25%

Total

64,690

99%

38,906

99%

Table 30 – Unit Size by Tenure

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

Describe the number and targeting (income level/type of family served) of units assisted with federal, state, and local programs.

There are approximately 6,125 existing affordable housing units that have received some combination of local, federal, or state assistance. These units typically target renter households earning 60% of area median income or below and serve populations including low and very low-income families, households with disabilities, formerly homeless adults, and older adults. Affordable homeownership units typically serve moderate income and below. Affordable housing developers and developers with nonprofit arms manage approximately 4,100 of these units. Nearly 3,000 of these units are assisted through the Marin Housing Authority’s Section 8 and public housing programs. Of the public housing units, 296 units serve families and 200 units serve senior and disabled households. The 6,125 units consist of the following types:

Public Housing

496

Seniors

1126

Family Housing[13]

2791

Disabled

207

Home Ownership

832

Permanent Supportive Housing

337

Transitional & Shelter

336

Total

6125

Provide an assessment of units expected to be lost from the affordable housing inventory for any reason, such as expiration of Section 8 contracts.

The California Housing Partnership Corporation annually assesses the conversion risk of federally and state subsidized affordable rental properties. These include properties financed or assisted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA), and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program administered by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC). According to the 2020 report Marin County is at risk of losing 10 deed restricted affordable units over the next 10 years.

The Marin Housing Authority manages 340 Below Market Rate (BMR) home ownership units throughout Marin County that are preserved by deed-restriction, of which 90 units are in the unincorporated County. The Marin Housing Authority processes all sales of new units, resales of existing units, refinances, capital improvement evaluations, down payment assistance, and monitoring of the portfolio for compliance with BMR Program requirements.  MHA also works with developers at the initial stage to formulate Developer Agreements determining the affordability range and construction requirements for these BMR units. There are an additional 408 BMR units in the City of Novato that are managed by Hello Housing in a similar manner.

At this time MHA does not have any anticipated Section 8 contract expirations.

Does the availability of housing units meet the needs of the population?

The current housing available does not meet the demand. The problem is particularly critical for low-income renters. With over 40% of units priced above $2,000 a month, renters making below $75,000 a year, which comprises 52.9% of renters, are faced with limited affordable housing options, a primary driver for the overcrowding rates seen in some communities[14].

Renter Income

Number

Percent

Maximum Monthly Affordable Rent

0-$24,999

7,330

19.3%

$625

$25,000- $34,999

2,923

7.7%

$875

$35,000-$49,999

4,152

10.9%

$1,250

$50,000 - $74,999

5,718

15.0%

$1,875

$75,000-$99,999

4,657

12.2%

$2,500

$100,000-$149,999

5,877

15.4%

$3,750

$150,000+

7,401

19.4%

$3,750+

Table 31: Rental Maximum Monthly Affordable Rent by Income Level

Data Source:

2013-2018 ACS

Increasing rents and home prices have caused many Marin households to be cost burdened or severely cost burdened and forced many longtime Marin residents out of county. With over 28,000 Marin households making 50 percent or less of the AMI and only 6,000 deed restricted affordable units, 52% of renters are cost-burden or severely cost-burdened. Households making 50 percent or less of the Area Median Income are disproportionately cost-burdened. 

Affordable homeowner units which are predominantly Below Market Rate units, are very rare in Marin’s competitive market. Most of these homes are not for sale, and when they do come on the market it is not uncommon to receive upwards of 100 offers. 

The county’s renters with the greatest needs include families with children; older adults living on fixed incomes; transitional age youth; and special needs populations including homeless, those at-risk of homelessness, persons with disabilities, and victims of domestic violence.

Describe the need for specific types of housing:

Marin’s housing stock is composed of 634% single-family residences, which leaves less than half of the housing stock for multifamily development. With over half of renters earning below 80% AMI for a household of four, there is an extreme need for affordable rental housing, made more difficult by the lack of general rental housing stock. Additionally, there is an even larger dearth of family rental housing. While about 6% of Marin’s rental housing is composed of four bedrooms or more, 19% of Marin’s renter households are comprised of more than 4 persons; indicating a need for more rental housing with larger bedroom counts. There is also a need for more accessible housing for households with disabilities and assisted living for those recovering from illness/injury and those unable to care for themselves.

Within Marin’s home ownership market, homes prices are unattainable for a large number of residents, including those on fixed-incomes, and those who are already cost-burdened by other expenses, such as childcare. There is a need for more moderately priced homes to serve lower-income families, singles, and seniors. In 2018, the median price was $1,107,656 for a 3-bedroom home, $835,745 for a 2-bedroom, and $676,786 for a 1-bedroom[15].

Discussion

Marin’s limited rental housing contributes to the affordability issues witnessed by a majority of renters, where over half were considered housing burdened, and nearly a quarter considered “severely rent-burdened” and had spent at least 50% of their income on rent. There is a need for more multifamily housing development, and especially those with units large enough to house the number of large families in the County. Homeowners in Marin are also cost-burdened by housing, with nearly a quarter spending over 30% of their income on housing. Additionally, those looking to purchase are faced with extremely limited affordable options, with those looking to purchase a 1-bedroom in 2018 requiring an annual income of about $157,000 with conventional financing[16]. In 2018, the median income was $52,781 for a one-person household and $128,357 for a two-person household[17].

MA-15 Housing Market Analysis: Cost of Housing - 91.210(a)

Introduction

The Marin County housing market is exceedingly expensive for prospective homebuyers, renters, and developers. The factors causing high housing prices and rents include restrictive zoning primarily for single family homes, community and local government opposition to new development, high cost of developing housing, a lack of awareness of potential housing sites, high demand resulting from job growth in the region, and relatively high incomes of households.

Marin’s housing prices are among the highest in the nation for both renters and homeowners. According to ACS 5-year estimates noted below, the median home value for a single-family home in Marin in 2018 was $959,200 and has risen by 18% since 2015. Similarly, the median contract rent for Marin was $2,072 in 2018 representing a 23% increase since 2015.

Cost of Housing

 

Base Year: 2009

Most Recent Year: 2015

% Change

Median Home Value

880,000

815,100

(7%)

Median Contract Rent

1,406

1,587

13%

Table 32 – Cost of Housing

Data Source:

2005-2009 ACS (Base Year), 2011-2015 ACS (Most Recent Year)

Newer data illustrates a significant increase in both median home value and contract rent in Marin County from the 2015 data presented in IDIS. According to the American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the median home value in Marin was $959,200 in 2018, representing an increase of 9% from the base year of 2009, as opposed to the 7% decrease and median home value of $815,100 that was noted for 2015[18].

According to the American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the median contract rent in Marin was $2,072 in 2018, representing an increase of 47% from the base year of 2009, as opposed to the 13% increase and median contract rent of $1,587 that was noted for 2015[19].

Rent Paid

Number

%

Less than $500

3,934

10.1%

$500-999

3,643

9.4%

$1,000-1,499

10,839

27.8%

$1,500-1,999

10,183

26.2%

$2,000 or more

10,302

26.5%

Total

38,901

99.9%

     Table 33 - Rent Paid

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

Examining rental data through the American Community Survey, both contract and gross rent[20] illustrate a significant increase in the proportion of rents that are above $2,000 a month. In 2018, according to 5-year estimates, 46% of renters paid above $2,000 in gross rent a month[21]. Additionally, according to 5-year estimates, in 2018, 42% of renters paid above $2,000 a month in contract rent.[22] Both depict a significant increase from the 2015 data presented by HUD, which notes only 26% paid above $2,000 a month on rent.

Housing Affordability

% Units affordable to Households earning

Renter

Owner

30% HAMFI[23]

2,773

No Data

50% HAMFI

6,904

1,519

80% HAMFI

21,130

3,946

100% HAMFI

No Data

6,880

Total

30,807

12,345

    Table 34 – Housing Affordability

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

Monthly Rent

Monthly Rent ($)

Efficiency (no bedroom)

1 Bedroom

2 Bedroom

3 Bedroom

4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rent

1,822

2,255

2,809

3,663

3,912

High HOME Rent

1,818

1,949

2,341

2,695

2,986

Low HOME Rent

1,411

1,511

1,813

2,095

2,337

Table 35 – Monthly Rent

Data Source:

HUD FMR and HOME Rents

Is there sufficient housing for households at all income levels?

There is insufficient housing across the spectrum. However, households that earn lower incomes have more difficulty locating housing. As noted in the 2020 Marin County AI, “according to the Marin Economic Forum, beginning in 2019, rent prices started increasing at a faster pace than home prices – and renters do not get the advantages homeowners do when interest rates are lower, they do not receive multiple tax deductions, and they do not receive appreciation and equity over time”[24].

The cost of housing has become increasingly prohibitive, across both the rental and ownership markets: as noted earlier, with a median sales price of a single-family residence, which is higher than the median value noted previously, was $1,183,816 in 2018. It would require an annual income of over $275,000 with conventional financing to afford. In 2018, the median household income for homeowners was about half that, at $142,545[25].

According to Zillow rental data, the median price to rent a house in Marin in 2018 was $3,663 for all rentals with multifamily rentals being $3,040 per month[26]. This did not include any rental deposits which could be up to an additional $6,536. Assuming an affordability rate of no more than 30% of household income, it would require an annual income of nearly $122,000 to afford the median apartment rental.   The median income for a renter of a house or of an apartment in Marin in 2018 was to $69,047[27].   

The lack of adequate housing stock contributes to the growing affordability issues seen across both the rental and owner housing markets. Marin’s rental vacancy rate in 2018 was 2.5%, while the owner vacancy rate was just 0.7%. Marin, in addition to neighboring counties across the Bay Area, are seeing increased competition in housing.

How is affordability of housing likely to change considering changes to home values and/or rents?

Housing costs and rents are expected to continue to rise with the on-going housing crisis across the State of California, which is particularly prominent in the Bay Area. This combined with the county’s overall slow growth model and limited development of housing and in particular higher density housing will exacerbate housing costs. For these reasons, housing construction in the private market has focused on high-end single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, and age restricted developments serving older adults.

The high cost of land and construction make affordable housing development in Marin difficult without substantial subsidy. Projects tend to be small in scale due to local zoning which favors lower density development and community opposition to larger housing projects. Small projects are not competitive for many State funding sources and are not able to benefit from economies of scale. This results in higher development costs per unit, and it also results in higher ongoing management costs per rental unit. An example of high development costs is a project currently developing 54 1-bedroom units of affordable housing in Marin with a per unit cost of over $650,000. 

Marin’s low rental vacancy rates puts increased pressure on the county’s lowest income households, widens the rental affordability gap, and increases rental cost burden identified previously.

How do HOME rents / Fair Market Rent compare to Area Median Rent? How might this impact your strategy to produce or preserve affordable housing?

The HOME and Fair Market Rents are generally lower than the median rents in Marin County, with HOME rents being substantially lower. Published rents for a two-bedroom unit in 2018 include a HOME High rent of $2,126, a HOME Low rent of $1,650, and a Fair Market rent of $3,121[28]. Whereas the median multi-family rental during the same timeframe was $3,186. Given this, it is reasonable to assume that new rental developments based on HOME rents will be challenging to pencil out without additional assistance. Preservation of housing as affordable is considerably less expensive and can be easier to pencil out, however the need for additional units in the market is a strong driver of funding allocations across all local funding sources.

Discussion

Marin County housing is in great demand, with high prices and rents as the primary indicators of this demand. The county’s rental vacancy rate of 2.5% demonstrates a high demand for housing, and upward pressure on home prices and rents. Other contributors to high demand are a regional and statewide housing crisis, growing regional economy, and the desirability of Marin County as a place to live. Marin County has good public schools, a beautiful landscape, plenty of recreational opportunities, and is in close proximity to the coast, wine country, the East Bay, and San Francisco.

MA-20 Housing Market Analysis: Condition of Housing – 91.210(a)

Introduction

The condition of Marin’s housing stock ranges from poor to excellent. The community engagement piece of this Consolidated Plan surfaced many habitability issues faced in the county, primarily by renters. The survey that was conducted as part of this Consolidated Plan engagement illustrates that 44% of respondents believed that there needs to be rehabilitation of existing multi-family units, the second highest response after the need to construct new affordable housing. Additionally, several community meetings brought to light issues around mold, trash, and water seepage, specifically in areas of the Canal, Marin City, and West Marin, the county’s identified low-income communities and communities of color.

Definitions

Standard Condition: A dwelling unit that is not deemed substandard as defined by local code.

Substandard Condition: All buildings or structures which are structurally unsafe or not provided with adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life, or which in relation to existing use constitute a hazard to safety or health, or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance of the building, plumbing, mechanical or electrical systems, or by dilapidation, obsolescence, fire hazard, disaster damage or abandonment, as specified in the codes adopted by Section 19.04.010, or California Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3, are for the purpose of this section substandard and/or unsafe buildings. In California Code, GOV § 65584.01 this is defined as more than one person per room.

Substandard but Suitable for Rehabilitation: A dwelling unit that is substandard structure, that has basic infrastructure (including systems for clean water and adequate waste disposal) that allows for economically and physically feasible improvements and upon completion of rehabilitation meets the definition of a “standard” dwelling unit.

Condition of Units

This table displays the number of housing units, by tenure, based on the number of “conditions” the units has. Selected conditions are similar to housing problems in the Needs Assessment and are (1) lacks complete plumbing facilities, (2) lacks complete kitchen facilities, (3) more than one person per room, and (4) cost burden greater than 30%. The table also calculates the percentage of total units that the category represents.

Condition of Units

Owner-Occupied

Renter-Occupied

Number

%

Number

%

With one selected Condition

21,652

33%

18,372

47%

With two selected Conditions

282

0%

2,381

6%

With three selected Conditions

35

0%

102

0%

With four selected Conditions

0

0%

35

0%

No selected Conditions

42,750

66%

18,037

46%

Total

64,719

99%

38,927

99%

     Table 36 - Condition of Units

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

Year Unit Built

Year Unit Built

Owner-Occupied

Renter-Occupied

Number

%

Number

%

2000 or later

3,605

6%

2,094

5%

1980-1999

9,836

15%

7,746

20%

1950-1979

38,173

59%

22,676

58%

Before 1950

13,086

20%

6,404

16%

Total

64,700

100%

38,920

99%

     Table 37 – Year Unit Built

Data Source:

2011-2015 CHAS

Risk of Lead-Based Paint Hazard

Risk of Lead-Based Paint Hazard

Owner-Occupied

Renter-Occupied

Number

%

Number

%

Total Number of Units Built Before 1980

51,259

79%

29,080

75%

Housing Units built before 1980 with children present

3,410

5%

1,466

4%

     Table 38 – Risk of Lead-Based Paint

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS (Total Units) 2011-2015 CHAS (Units with Children present)

Vacant Units

 

Suitable for Rehabilitation

Not Suitable for Rehabilitation

Total

Vacant Units

 

 

 

Abandoned Vacant Units

 

 

 

REO Properties

 

 

 

Abandoned REO Properties

 

 

 

Table 39 - Vacant Units - The County does not maintain such data

Through examining vacancy data made available through the ACS, 6.7% of Marin’s 112,868 housing units in 2018, about 7,610 units, were vacant. The rental vacancy rate in 2018 was 2.5%, and the homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%, substantially lower than the overall statistic. The prevalence of short-term rentals in Marin has grown substantially since the preparation of the last Consolidated Plan and has severely limited the already limited housing stock in the County. In 2018, 36% of vacant units in Marin were used as seasonal, recreational or occasional use, while 13% were active for rent, and 6% were active for sale.

 

Number

Percent

Vacant - for rent

999

13%

Vacant - rented but not occupied

292

4%

Vacant - for sale only

476

6%

Vacant - sold but not occupied

257

3%

Vacant - seasonal, recreational or occasional use

2753

36%

Vacant - migrant workers

0

0%

Vacant - other

2833

37%

Total vacant

7610

 

Table 40: Vacancy Status of Vacant Housing Units in Marin County

Data Source:

2013-2018 ACS

The condition of these units varies by the community in which it is located. As noted previously, through community engagement meetings, housing habitability issues were identified by Marin City, the Canal, and West Marin communities.

Need for Owner and Rental Rehabilitation

Based on the survey gathered for the community engagement of this Consolidated Plan, 44% of respondents indicated the need for rehabilitation of multi-family housing, as opposed to 20% for single-family housing. However, given that the majority of the County’s housing stock is over 40 years old, there is considerable need for rehabilitation across all segments of the housing market.

Estimated Number of Housing Units Occupied by Low- or Moderate-Income Families with LBP Hazards

As shown in the table above, an estimated 3,410 owner occupied, and 1,466 renter occupied housing units in Marin were constructed before 1980 and have children under the age of 18 living in them.

If these units contain a proportionate share of families in poverty by housing tenure as the overall County proportion (5.2% of families with children in owner occupied households are in poverty, while 15.5% of families with children in renter occupied households are in poverty), then as many as 177 owner occupied and 227 renter occupied housing units in Marin could be occupied by low income families with children and contain lead based paint hazards[29].

Discussion

N/A

MA-25 Public and Assisted Housing – 91.210(b)

Introduction

Marin County has a total of 496 public housing units, 296 of which are in Marin City and 200 of which are in elderly/disabled complexes scattered around the county.  The waiting list for public housing has been closed for several years. 

Totals Number of Units

Program Type

 

Certificate

Mod-Rehab

Public Housing

Vouchers

Total

Project -based

Tenant -based*

 

Special Purpose Voucher

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Family Unification Program

Disabled**

# of units vouchers available

0

0

496

2,145

52

2,093

73

5

75

# of accessible units

-

-

26

-

11

-

-

0

0

** Includes Non-Elderly Disabled, Mainstream One-Year, Mainstream Five-year, and Nursing Home Transition

Table 41– Total Number of Units by Program Type

Data Source:

PIC (PIH Information Center)

Describe the supply of public housing developments:

The Marin Housing Authority currently manages a portfolio of 496 public housing units comprised of high-rise, low rise building dispersed at 6 sites throughout the county.

Describe the number and physical condition of public housing units in the jurisdiction, including those that are participating in an approved Public Housing Agency Plan:

The Public Housing units were all built in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, and due to the lack of adequate HUD funding over the years, the units have significant deferred maintenance. The physical condition of public housing in units is based on a March 2020 Physical Needs Assessments (PNA), which shows the properties have over $120,000,000 of capital and preventative maintenance that will be necessary over the next 45 years; this dollar value reflects an inflation factor of 1.025%.   The table below reflects the scores given to Marin's public housing from HUD on a scale of 1-100 with 100 being the highest possible score.   

Public Housing Condition -

Public Housing Development

Average Inspection Score

Casa Nova - 35 Carmel Drive, Novato

73 (2/12/2020)*

Golden Hinde - 5 Golden Hinde Blvd., San Rafael

73 (2/12/2020)*

Homestead Terrace - 100 Linden Ln., San Rafael

73 (2/12/2020)*

Kruger Pines - 47 North Knoll Rd., Mill Valley

73 (2/12/2020)*

Golden Gate Village - 429 Drake Ave., Marin City

59 (2/1/2020)

Venetia Oaks - 263 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael

73 (2/12/2020)*

* MHA’s Public Housing units are only scored as 2 Asset Management Project’s (AMP) one is GGV and Kruger Pines encompasses all 5 senior/disabled complexes.

Table 42 - Public Housing Condition 2019

Describe the restoration and revitalization needs of public housing units in the jurisdiction:

Physical Improvement goals outlined below focus on completion of capital improvements in progress, urgently needed work, mandated improvements and possible future/ long term needs, all with energy conservation measures where cost effective: Urgently needed infrastructure improvements to repair and replace waste lines at the Golden Gate Village complex; Modernization of senior and family developments including:  exterior lighting, patio and exterior stairway repairs;  The Management Improvements (MI) goals include security surveillance cameras improvements, community preservation and revitalization facilitator, public housing authority-wide modernization of internal business management systems, and the continuation of a resident employment/economic self-sufficiency program. Conducting physical and management needs assessment of all six developments. In addition to modernizing existing public housing units, the MHA in collaboration with the community will be exploring the idea of developing revitalization and replacement housing strategies to preserve deteriorated low-income units it manages through revitalization and maintenance of affordable housing units.  The MHA plans to embark into a long-term revitalization plan at the Golden Gate Village, a 296-unit family development in Marin City. Any and all of these opportunities could bring the modernization and new construction of new affordable rental and first-time homeownership opportunities at the site. MHA Board of Commissioners and staff will work closely with residents, community leaders and other stakeholders through the Community Working Group to evaluate and explore various options for improvement, preservation and revitalization of public housing.

Describe the public housing agency's strategy for improving the living environment of low- and moderate-income families residing in public housing:

With a Capital Fund allocation of approximately $1 million, MHA will never be able to fully address the short and long term needs at the family site of Golden Gate Village through this program alone.  The extent of the physical problems, the inappropriateness of existing site plans, and obsolescence of building designs at Golden Gate Village would make extensive repairs at these buildings an ineffective long-term strategy. To this end MHA is establishing a Working Group to create a strategic plan for preservation and revitalization of public housing that is aligned with MHA’s Five-Year Annual Plan. The strategies proposed by the Working Group will be in alignment with the County of Marin’s Consolidated Plan that identifies a serious shortage of affordable housing opportunities and a need to maintain a stock of housing for very low-income households. In addition, MHA has strengthened relationships with the local schools and established an attendance policy for Public Housing families with children. This program provides incentives for families to be sure their children are attending school. MHA has increased its Resident Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency case management services to all Public Housing residents in all six complexes. This program supports families in attaining health, education, income and financial goals. Some families are able to build escrow accounts as their earned income increases through their participation in the program.  No smoking policies were added to the lease in Public Housing. Newly formed resident groups have been established in both the family and senior/disabled properties. These resident groups provide input on policies and the annual and 5-Year Agency Plan. MHA has also strengthened its partnerships with local law enforcement in an effort to decrease crime and provide residents with information to help keep their community safer.

Discussion:

The Housing Authority also provides Supportive Services to improve the lives of program participants including:

The Shelter Plus Care (S + C) Program – long-term rental assistance and supportive services for homeless individuals who have a serious mental illness (and who may also have a substance abuse problem and/or HIV/AIDS).  Services are provided by Marin Housing case managers and an array of community-based partner agencies.

Coordinated Entry – MHA service the community as the coordinated entry for all the HUD homeless beds utilizing a vulnerability index tool to prioritize people who are the most vulnerable for the PSH beds/units we have in Marin County.

Housing Locator – MHA has two dedicated housing locators to support our currently homeless applicants to find housing in the community, as well as assist to continue to recruit and retain landlord partners.

Housing for Domestic Peace – MHA managers a PSH program for people who are homeless and are victims of domestic violence to find and remain successfully housed.

Landlord Partnership Program – In order to recruit and retain landlords MHA managers an incentive program to provide security deposits, damage reimbursements and vacancy loss. Additionally, this program provides a format to creating trainings for our landlord community. 

The Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Long-Term Rental Assistance Program – long-term rental assistance and coordination of services for individuals and families who are living with HIV or AIDS.

Family-Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program – case management services for families in the Section 8 program and residents of the Marin City public housing complex who are working to achieve educational and employment goals and becoming independent of public assistance.

Service Coordinators – providing on site case management services at the Senior/Disabled sites to assist in maintaining independent living and coordination of mainstream services.

In the HOPWA program, rental assistance is provided to individuals and families where the head of household or another family member is HIV-positive or has AIDS.  Due to the loss of income and medical expenses that come with a terminal illness, these clients are at risk of homelessness.  HOPWA program participants lease privately-owned apartments and receive a rental subsidy based on their income level and family composition.  The Housing Authority has designed this program to be flexible and highly client-friendly, with particular attention given to protecting the confidentiality of the participants.

MA-30 Homeless Facilities and Services – 91.210(c)

Introduction

Homeless persons and persons at risk of homelessness are referred by social service organizations, religious congregations, law enforcement agencies, and word-of-mouth to Coordinated Entry access sites, which refer these individuals and families to resources prioritized to meet their needs. Client vulnerability is assessed at access sites using the appropriate VI-SPDAT tool. A client’s VI-SPDAT score, in combination with their length of time homeless, are used to prioritize housing & service interventions. From there, individuals are referred to services through Coordinated Entry. Additionally, Marin County tracks clients, assessments, and prioritization through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The data collected follows universal data standards developed by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and all participating HMIS agencies agree to collect the universal data elements to ensure an unduplicated count of homeless and at-risk persons in the county. The combination of Coordinated Entry and HMIS allows Marin County providers to adequately match individuals to services and track outcomes.

Facilities and Housing Targeted to Homeless Households

 

Emergency Shelter Beds

Transitional Housing Beds

Permanent Supportive Housing Beds

Year-Round Beds (Current & New)

Voucher / Seasonal / Overflow Beds

Current & New

Current & New

Under Development

Households with Adult(s) and Child(ren)

55

3

159

155

0

Households with Only Adults

149

60

38

492

10

Chronically Homeless Households

0

0

0

492

28

Veterans

0

0

0

16

0

Unaccompanied Youth

0

0

0

0

0

Table 43 - Facilities and Housing Targeted to Homeless Households

Describe mainstream services, such as health, mental health, and employment services to the extent those services are used to complement services targeted to homeless persons

The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services has an extensive directory of agencies serving persons with special needs.

For people with mental illness, Buckelew Programs and Homeward Bound of Marin offer a wide range of supportive housing. For example, Buckelew Houses offer Residential Support Service (RSS) housing in single-family houses and provide mentally ill adults with basic support services for independent living.

For people who need treatment for substance abuse disorders, Marin nonprofit agencies provide beds in a range of types of recovery facilities. Services for this population are described in detail in the "Marin County Directory of Alcohol, Drug, and Related Programs, Services, and Activities," available from Marin Community Resource and the Marin County Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs.

Because of the availability of Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) funds, the housing needs of some people living with HIV/AIDS are met through long-term rent subsidies. The County has a limited number of programs to link people returning to the community from mental and physical health institutions to appropriate supportive housing. The Marin County Community Mental Health Program is a referral resource, and local hospitals provide patients with discharge planning services. The effectiveness of these referral services, however, is limited by the shortage of supportive housing with services in many categories.

Generally, the most severe shortages are in supportive housing for people with multiple disorders (for example, a person with chronic mental illness and a substance abuse disorder) and people who need a high level of services. For these individuals, the best intervention is permanent supportive housing. While permanent supportive housing does exist in Marin County, there are not enough units to meet the level of need.

List and describe services and facilities that meet the needs of homeless persons, particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth. If the services and facilities are listed on screen SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure or screen MA-35 Special Needs Facilities and Services, describe how these facilities and services specifically address the needs of these populations.

Project Type

Organization Name

Project Name

Target Pop. A

Total Beds

Utilization Rate

PSH

Buckelew Programs

AIL (Assisted Independent Living)

SMF

63

100%

PSH

Buckelew Programs

RSS (Residential Support Service)

SMF

64

100%

PSH

Buckelew Programs

Supported Housing (Marin)

SMF

6

100%

PSH

Buckelew Programs

Supported Housing (non- HUD-funded)

SMF

58

100%

TH

Buckelew Programs

Transition Age Youth TH

YMF

3

0%

TH

Center for Domestic Peace

Second Step Transitional Housing

HC

48

100%

TH

Center for Domestic Peace

Second Step Transitional Housing (non-HUD funded)

HC

48

100%

TH

Center for Domestic Peace

Short-Term Transitional Housing

SFHC

16

94%

TH

Center Point Inc.

812 D Street

SM

12

0%

TH

Center Point Inc.

Mary Street/Charlotte House

HC

13

115%

TH

Center Point Inc.

THP Scattered Sites

SMF

38

100%

PSH

EAH Housing

San Clemente

HC

20

0%

PSH

Eden Housing Investments

Fireside Affordable Housing

SMF+HC

58

 

TH

Gilead House

Gilead House

HC

9

111%

TH

Hamilton Continuum Partners LP

Hamilton Meadows: Phases 1 & 2

SMF+HC

105

74%

PSH

Homeward Bound of Marin

4th St.

SMF

20

100%

PSH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Carmel

SMF

26

81%

ES

Homeward Bound of Marin

Family Emergency Center

HC

52

67%

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Family Park

HC

23

100%

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Family Park

HC

3

0%

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Family Park

HC

4

 

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Family Resource Center

HC

25

76%

PSH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Housing First

HC

9

0%

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Meadow Park

SMF+HC

23

148%

ES

Homeward Bound of Marin

Mill Street Center

SMF

40

105%

ES

Homeward Bound of Marin

New Beginnings Center

SMF

64

84%

ES

Homeward Bound of Marin

New Beginnings Center (per diem beds for veterans)

SMF

16

100%

PSH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Palm Court

SMF

17

100%

PSH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Palm Court

SMF

3

0%

PSH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Palm Court (non-HUD funded)

SMF

1

0%

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

The Next Key

SMF+HC

36

 

TH

Homeward Bound of Marin

Voyager

SMF

10

70%

PSH

Housing Authority of the County of Marin

Formerly SHIA (Section 8 subsidy)

SMF+HC

47

100%

PSH

Housing Authority of the County of Marin

Odyssey (Section 8 subsidy)

SMF

21

100%

PSH

Housing Authority of the County of Marin

Shelter Plus Care

SMF+HC

82

85%

PSH

Housing Authority of the County of Marin

Shelter Plus Care 3 (expiring 2010)

SMF

3

100%

ES

Huckleberry Youth Programs

Nine Grove Lane

YMF

4

75%

PSH

St. Vincent de Paul Society

Apartments Above the Dining Room

SMF

6

100%

ES

St. Vincent de Paul Society

St. Vincent de Paul Center

SMF

3

0%

 

MA-35 Special Needs Facilities and Services – 91.210(d)

Introduction

Facilities and services that assist persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing and programs that support persons returning from mental and physical health institutions are important components to Marin and its supportive housing.

Including the elderly, frail elderly, persons with disabilities (mental, physical, developmental), persons with alcohol or other drug addictions, persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, public housing residents and any other categories the jurisdiction may specify, and describe their supportive housing needs

There are limited housing opportunities in Marin County for the elderly, frail elderly, older adult persons with disabilities, persons struggling with addiction, persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, public housing residents. Housing options are particularly limited for lower-income households. The public housing options in Marin are few and not all of them are suitable to support older adults and persons with disabilities. Nonprofit and public agencies that operate subsidized housing serving these populations attempt to link residents with the supportive services to prevent homelessness, improve the quality of life, aid individuals in aging in place, and assist in achieving economic independence among other services.

According to the 2019 Marin County Options for Living Guide: A Housing Resource Guide for Marin County Older Adults, published by the Marin County Aging and Adult Services there are approximately 1,300 Residential Care units, just over 600 Continuing Care Retirement Community units, and a little more than 1500 Skilled Nursing units in Marin. The majority of these are non-subsidized making them inaccessible to low and very low-income households. West Marin has only one nonprofit assisted living facility for older adults and lacks other options for older adults, such as residential care facilities, adult day care, retirement homes, and other nursing care facilities.  Many houses in this area are in remote and inaccessible areas making home care visitation challenging. 

Describe programs for ensuring that persons returning from mental and physical health institutions receive appropriate supportive housing

The Transition to Wellness Program supported through the Continuum of Care is an innovative collaboration between homeless housing and service providers Homeward Bound of Marin and Ritter Center with local hospitals and other social service providers. The program provides three double-bed rooms at the Next Key Center for adults leaving hospital care who otherwise have no stable housing in which to recuperate. The program also provides nursing supervision, case management, and other supports from Homeward Bound. Between 2016 and 2017, the program served 52 people, saving 833 days of hospitalization valued at almost $2.5 million.[30]

In addition, the County of Marin is preparing to release an RFP to renovate a building near downtown San Rafael for use as transitional housing for people recovering from a mental illness[31]. The Transitional Residential Treatment Program will provide residential support to 14-16 individuals for an appropriate time period for maintaining stability and working on long-term goals, likely from three months to a year. Clients will be fully integrated into household life and, where appropriate, also participate in job-training, school, work, or day treatment programs. The ultimate goals for this program include developing critical social skills and coping strategies, finding housing, and securing ongoing services and supports in preparation for discharge from the program.[32]

Specify the activities that the jurisdiction plans to undertake during the next year to address the housing and supportive services needs identified in accordance with 91.215(e) with respect to persons who are not homeless but have other special needs. Link to one-year goals. 91.315(e)

Over the next funding cycle CDBG funds are proposed for the following projects to address the housing and supportive service needs to persons who are not homeless but have other special needs:

Eden Housing’s Whistlestop Senior Housing proposes to develop 62 units of senior housing.

Marin Center for Independent Living provides home modification to allow people with disabilities to remain in their homes.

Marin Housing Authority’s Rehabilitation Loan Program provides home loans to make habitability improvements for low-income homeowners.

Marin City Community Development Corporation proposes to expand their Empowerment Clubhouse, Marin’s best practice Work-Ordered-Day Mental Health Program.

Community Action Marin’s proposes to upgrade their space to provide centralized intake and enrollment for their broad spectrum of programs.

Coastal Health Alliance Clinic proposes to upgrade their Point Reyes clinic’s physical infrastructure to ensure equal accessibility for all patients.

Covia Home Match program provides shared affordable housing opportunities, which provides economic stability for home providers who are generally older adults living alone and on fixed incomes.

Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California provides fair housing counseling, investigation, and assistance.

Legal Aid of Marin provides legal support for households facing eviction.

RotaCare Bay Area provides free basic health services to low-income and un/under-insured individuals.

San Geronimo Valley Community Center provides nutritional support through access to food pantry and congregant meals.

For entitlement/consortia grantees: Specify the activities that the jurisdiction plans to undertake during the next year to address the housing and supportive services needs identified in accordance with 91.215(e) with respect to persons who are not homeless but have other special needs. Link to one-year goals. (91.220(2))

N/A

MA-40 Barriers to Affordable Housing – 91.210(e)

Negative Effects of Public Policies on Affordable Housing and Residential Investment

According to the 2020 Marin County Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), there were four (4) key barriers to affordable housing that were identified in Marin County:

Community opposition to affordable housing - community opposition has been identified as the number one reason for the lack of affordable housing development in the County, particularly for families and in areas outside of minority concentration. The opposition is primarily often based primarily on common growth issues such as traffic congestion, water demand versus supply, and increased school enrollment. However, opposition can also reflect underlying fears of reduced property values, the misperceptions of the type of housing that would be created, the stereotyped impressions of the people who will occupy the housing, and safety.

 The cost of developing affordable housing - the cost of developing affordable housing in Marin is prohibitive even after accounting for funding from grants, loans, direct and indirect subsidies, tax credits and private donors. Many Marin communities require that developers of multi-family housing set aside a percentage of units as affordable housing, and the County’s Housing Trust Fund provide financial assistance to help affordable housing developers create and preserve affordable housing for low and very-low income households. Some cities and towns do not have inclusionary policies or affordable housing impact fees, and for some jurisdictions, the housing trust account balances are too low to be useful. In addition, in-lieu fees do not reflect the actual cost of building affordable housing in the County.

Lack of affordable housing sites - developers and members of the community are unaware of potential affordable sites across the County. Because of this lack of knowledge, opportunities to purchase land or properties may reduce the availability for affordable housing development.

Lack of opportunities for home ownership by people of color and ongoing concerns of gentrification - the price of housing in Marin is unaffordable for most residents, but because of historic, discriminatory practices and government policies, African American – in particular, people who lived in Marin City during the Marinship years – have been particularly affected by policies that have created segregated communities with limited access to opportunities. In addition, gentrification of some Marin communities is forcing people of color and low-income residents to be priced out of their own neighborhood

MA-45 Non-Housing Community Development Assets – 91.215 (f)

Introduction

This section provides an overview of employment, workforce characteristics, and earnings in Marin. The data presented were pre-populated by the HUD eCon Plan and updated with data from the Census’ American Community Survey (ACS) and Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) whenever applicable.

Marin’s unemployment rate has remained relatively stable in the past five years and has decreased by nearly half since the preparation of the last Consolidated Plan: while Marin held an unemployment rate of 6.3% in 2011, this rate has decreased to 3.8% in 2019[33]. In this time, there has been a growing number of people who are employed in Marin, but reside outside county lines, largely due to exorbitant housing costs.

 

Live and Work in Marin

Live in Marin, Employed Outside

Employed in Marin, Live Outside

2011

40,738

59,690

63,052

2017

42,798

64,869

70,457

Percent Change

+5.0%

+8.7%

+11.7%

Table 44: Dynamics of Marin Workers and Marin Residents

Data Source:

2011 and 2017 LEHD (Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics)

Of those that work in Marin, most are employed in Retail Trade (11.4%), Health Care and Social Assistance (16.3%), and Accommodation and Food Services (10.4%). Of these workers, 20% earn below $1,250 a month and 27% earn between $1,251 and $3,333, which means about half of Marin workers earn below $40,000 a year in wages[34].

Economic Development Market Analysis

Business Activity

Business by Sector

Number of Workers

Number of Jobs

Share of Workers%

Share of Jobs%

Jobs less workers%

Agriculture, Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction

875

410

1

0

-1

Arts, Entertainment, Accommodations

12,601

14,445

14

15

1

Construction

4,648

6,529

5

7

2

Education and Health Care Services

16,128

19,745

18

20

3

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate

6,963

6,347

8

7

-1

Information

3,997

2,619

4

3

-2

Manufacturing

4,134

3,757

4

4

-1

Other Services

4,658

5,809

5

6

1

Professional, Scientific, Management Services

15,940

12,459

17

13

-4

Public Administration

0

0

0

0

0

Retail Trade

10,441

12,967

11

13

2

Transportation and Warehousing

1,703

969

2

1

-1

Wholesale Trade

3,493

3,214

4

3

0

Total

85,581

89,270

--

--

--

Table 45 - Business Activity

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS (Workers), 2015 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (Jobs)

The 2015 data presented in IDIS related to Business by Sector showed the number of workers and jobs in the Public Administration sector at 0. Reviewing American Community Survey data, table S2405 5-year estimates showed 4,526 Public Administration workers in 2017, representing about 3.5% of workers in that year. The 2017 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data showed 5,922 Public Administration jobs in Marin, representing about 5.7% of jobs. With more jobs than workers in this sector, there is a jobs-less-workers percentage of roughly 2.2% in this sector in Marin County in 2017.

 

Labor Force

 

 

Total Population in the Civilian Labor Force

136,858

Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over

129,030

Unemployment Rate

5.73

Unemployment Rate for Ages 16-24

15.40

Unemployment Rate for Ages 25-65

4.09

Table 46 - Labor Force

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

According to the American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the overall unemployment rate in Marin decreased from 5.7% in 2015 to 3.8% in 2018[35]. Additionally, 5-year estimates of the American Community Survey show a decrease in the unemployment rate amongst those 25-65, from 4.1% in 2015 to 3.0% in 2018[36]. Amongst those 16-24, the unemployment rate increased, from 15.4% to 16.4% between 2015 and 2018.

However, a decrease in unemployment rate does not necessarily correlate with an increase in employment or a healthy economy for all. ACS 5-year estimates illustrates disparities in employment across racial lines. In 2018, non-Hispanic White Marin residents held a 61% employment/population ratio, in comparison to 48% of Black/African American residents[37].

Occupations by Sector

Number of PeopleMedian Income

Management, business and financial

46,951

Farming, fisheries and forestry occupations

4,568

Service

11,208

Sales and office

29,400

Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair

7,155

Production, transportation and material moving

3,662

Table 47 – Occupations by Sector

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

Travel Time

Travel Time

Number

Percentage

< 30 Minutes

59,910

53%

30-59 Minutes

37,514

33%

60 or More Minutes

15,517

14%

Total

112,941

100%

Table 48 - Travel Time

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

Education:

Educational Attainment by Employment Status (Population 16 and Older)

Educational Attainment

In Labor Force

 

Civilian Employed

Unemployed

Not in Labor Force

Less than high school graduate

6,313

793

3,754

High school graduate (includes equivalency)

11,129

692

4,050

Some college or Associate's degree

25,994

1,673

7,543

Bachelor's degree or higher

63,474

2,609

12,416

Table 49 - Educational Attainment by Employment Status

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

According to the ACS 5-year estimates, there have been notable changes to educational attainment by employment status from 2015 to 2018. Most significantly, the number of those unemployed decreased by roughly half across all four educational attainment levels: from 793 to 386 for those with less than high school, from 692 to 344 for those with a high school diploma or equivalent, from 1,673 to 888 for those with some college/associates degree, and from 2,609 to 1,738 for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher[38].

Educational Attainment by Age

 

Age

18–24 yrs

25–34 yrs

35–44 yrs

45–65 yrs

65+ yrs

Less than 9th grade

344

2,044

1,847

2,051

1,181

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

1,939

1,491

1,289

2,101

1,419

High school graduate, GED, or alternative

4,137

4,463

3,389

8,041

6,507

Some college, no degree

7,008

4,677

5,484

15,858

9,513

Associate's degree

423

1,719

1,854

5,731

2,976

Bachelor's degree

1,995

6,750

12,531

26,863

13,313

Graduate or professional degree

183

2,762

8,087

21,524

13,641

Table 50 - Educational Attainment by Age

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

 



 
 

 

 

 

Number

Percentage

Less than 9th grade

7,366

3.9%

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

5,517

2.9%

High school graduate, GED, or alternative

20,858

10.9%

Some college, no degree

32,405

17.0%

Associate's degree

12,377

6.5%

Bachelor's degree

63,261

33.2%

Graduate or professional degree

48,487

25.6%





    Table 51: Total Educational Attainment for the Population 25 and Over

Data Source:

2013-2018 ACS

Educational Attainment by Age table illustrates some differences from 2015 and more recent 2018 ACS data. Most notably, there is an increase in those who have attained a bachelor’s degree or graduate/professional degree across all age groups, except for those 33-44: for those 18-24, those who received a bachelor’s degree increased by 883; for those 24-35, there was an increase of 906 and 442 for those who received a bachelor’s degree and graduate/professional degree, respectively; for those 35-44, there was an increase of 535 in those who received less than 9th grade education, and a decrease of 1,289 that received a bachelor’s; for those aged 45-65, those who received a bachelor’s increased by 2,064 and for those over 65, there was an increase of 2,123 and 1,984 who received a bachelor’s degree and graduate/professional degree, respectively.

Educational Attainment – Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months

Educational Attainment

Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months

Less than high school graduate

409,678

High school graduate (includes equivalency)

999,140

Some college or Associate's degree

1,785,108

Bachelor's degree

2,197,489

Graduate or professional degree

3,323,941

Table 52 – Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months

Data Source:

2011-2015 ACS

The data presented for median earnings in 2015 is significantly incorrect across all educational levels from more recent 2018 data. Based on the 2018 ACS 5-year estimates, the median income for those with less than a high school degree was $22,733, $34,681 for high school graduates or equivalent, $44,417 for those with some college or associate’s degree, $78,195 for those with a bachelor’s degree, and $97,673 for those with a graduate/professional degree.

Based on the Business Activity table above, what are the major employment sectors within your jurisdiction?

Marin’s economy is diverse, in that no one sector dominates the share of workers or jobs. The top four industries with the highest proportion of workers and shares of jobs are those in the Arts, Entertainment & Accommodations, Professional, Scientific & Management Services, Education & Health Care Services and Retail Trade sectors.

Describe the workforce and infrastructure needs of the business community:

According to the latest Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) report completed in September 2015, of the over 19,000 known businesses, only 327 are large employers with over 50 employees. This has been partially linked to the high cost of commercial and residential real estate. Ninety percent of the private sector businesses in Marin employ less than 20 employees. Marin County’s population commutes to and from other areas. Many service workers commute into the county from Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties, which contributes to the consistent traffic congestion seen on northern Marin’s portion of 101 Highway. This highway commute was ranked in 2018 as one of the 50 worst commutes in the Bay Area by the Metropolitan according to the Marin Transportation Commission (MTC).[39] A large segment of inbound workers struggle to find reliable and affordable transportation alternatives to and from work.

Additionally, the Marin Economic Forum, a local non-profit, non-partisan economic development organization, indicated in their 2015 CEDS report that:

Over 60 percent of Marin County’s workforce commutes in daily, a number that continues to increase. Not only does this stress the county’s transportation networks but shows employers are dependent on staff outside of Marin.

At the same time, many of Marin’s highest skilled professionals seek work outside of Marin because there are better opportunities in terms of pay and presence of firms in sectors like technology.

Small businesses represent over 80 percent of Marin’s total businesses yet the financial and regulatory demands on them to maintain or grow are increasing as is the competition from e-commerce and the gig economy[40].

Describe any major changes that may have an economic impact, such as planned local or regional public or private sector investments or initiatives that have affected or may affect job and business growth opportunities during the planning period. Describe any needs for workforce development, business support or infrastructure these changes may create.

Some of the major changes in the region include Marin’s aging population, that will result in needed health care demands in addition to a large exodus from the workforce altogether. The loss of Marin workers due to neighboring jurisdictions increasing minimum wages allowing workers to find commensurate employment closer to home. However, data tracking this will not be available until 2021. In addition, there is considerable need for the reconstruction of homes and communities as a result of wildfires in counties north of Marin for the past three consecutive years.

With a larger aging population, there is a growing need for health care workers to support the medical needs of this group. Additionally, workers will need to replace the large number of anticipated older adults that will be retiring in the upcoming years. As noted by the Marin Economic Forum, almost 30 percent of Marin’s population is aged 60 or older, this is expected to be 40 percent by 2035. With a significant wave of retirements looming, there will be bigger deficits in available workers. The percent of those employed over the age of 60 in Marin County is substantially higher than the State of California: 39% instead of 28% for the state Housing cost are also a deterrent for young and middle aged workers from settling and working in Marin, which must be addressed in order to successfully plan for this anticipated need of workers in the years to come.

Additionally, Marin County, which sits directly south of Sonoma, Lake, Napa, and Mendocino counties that have experienced devastating wildfires in the past several years, is anticipated to deal with this issue in the years to come through a need for skilled construction labor to rebuild the homes and communities as a result of the fires. According to a regional report by the Marin Economic Forum in 2019 “Forecasting the Future”, fire rebuilding labor will be much needed in the years to come. The following two sections will discuss these labor needs in more detail.

Jobs in this sector create greater opportunities for earning a livable income. Based on 2018 LEHD data, those in construction had an average monthly wage of $5,680 and those in health care had $5,629, which equates to $68,160 and $67,548 annually, respectively.

How do the skills and education of the current workforce correspond to employment opportunities in the jurisdiction?

The number of those earning a bachelor’s degree has increased substantially in the past five years, across all age groups and, overall, there is a trend towards attaining higher education.

However, this trend is not experienced by all communities. In the Canal, Marin’s predominant immigrant Hispanic/Latinx community, 86% of residents have less than a bachelor’s degree, and 37% have completed less than 9th grade[41]. There are a number of programs targeted towards bridging higher education with low-income Latinx students in this community, to address the growing gap in college and career readiness. According to 2018-19 school data examined by Marin Promise Partnerships, a local partnership of over 100 school districts, community members and nonprofit organizations – in the San Rafael City Schools, where the majority of Canal students attend, there is a 41% gap in college and career readiness between higher-income and low-income students, as well as between white students and students of color. This is the largest gap of the four studied school districts.

Describe any current workforce training initiatives, including those supported by Workforce Investment Boards, community colleges and other organizations. Describe how these efforts will support the jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan.

The Workforce Alliance of the North Bay (WANB) is a multi-jurisdiction collaboration between Marin, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties. The WANB addresses common workforce challenges in a more comprehensive regional way including common industries, labor pools and workforce, and consolidates both administrative and planning functions from the counties into a single governance structure. The WANB consists of representatives from each geographical region.

WANB has established the Sonoma-Marin Health Care Industry Partnerships identifies key employers and establishing priorities in the health care industry. This initiative also responds to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, which indicated that 17 of the 30 fastest growing occupations will be in the health sector. As noted previously, with Marin’s growing aging population, this initiative responds to growing and projected needs.

Community Action Marin (CAM), a local nonprofit to supporting anti-poverty initiatives, has developed an Early Childhood Education Workforce Project, that engages low-income Marin residents in a one-year workforce training program to give them credentials to build a career in childhood education. Participants of this program take classes at the College of Marin, are able to take English language proficiency courses, if needed, and receive job training and a classroom internship. Currently in its second year, CAM has announced a 100% employment for participants as early childhood educators.

Other local organizations that are focused on workforce training initiatives include community-based organizations, such as the Marin City Community Development Corporation (Marin City CDC), and Canal Alliance. Both these organizations have established construction training programs to respond to the shortage of skilled construction labor in the Bay Area. The Marin City CDC currently has established a Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which consists of ten weeks job training program, in addition to job placement, and similarly, the Canal Alliance has established the Construction Skills Certificate Program to earn construction labor skills. The Canal Alliance program is part of the Education to Career (e2c) program, which is a partnership between the Canal Alliance, College of Marin, Marin Builders Association and Career Point Marin (WANB’s Marin provider). This initiative targets entry-level employment, provides basic skills for success in the construction industry, in addition to technical skills, career, financial and personal support, to help long-term career success. These initiatives directly address the growing need for skilled construction labor as it relates to the region’s push for more housing development across jurisdictions, in addition to the need to rebuild homes that were destroyed by the wildfires in the North Bay counties of Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino.

Does your jurisdiction participate in a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)?

Yes, the Marin Economic Forum completed the last Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in 2015.

If so, what economic development initiatives are you undertaking that may be coordinated with the Consolidated Plan? If not, describe other local/regional plans or initiatives that impact economic growth.

There are seven main ideas that the 2015 CEDS identified as strategic goals for Marin County:

Support and Grow Jobs and Businesses in Targeted Industries;

Wireless Access and Broadband Expansion;

Expansion of Tourism in a Sustainable Way for Marin County's communities;

Preservation of Natural Resources and Open Space;

Education and Workforce Development Enhancement;

Housing and Transportation Planning and Connections; and

Supporting and Expanding Marin County's Social Safety Net.

The goals shared and supported by this Consolidated Plan are:

Education and Workforce Development Enhancement,

Housing and Transportation Planning and Connections, and

Supporting and Expanding Marin County's Social Safety Net.

Discussion

While Marin County experiences growing annual median incomes, there is significant disparity. While Marin County reported an annual median income of about $118,000 in 2018, the median household incomes in Marin City was $37,292 and the Canal was $53,824.

Marin’s aging population and the wildfires that have affected many parts of Northern California have impacted Marin’s workforce needs, where there is a growing need for health care workers and for skilled labor in the construction industry, both of which can provide greater financial stability and opportunity for a livable wage. Marin’s service sector is still a major driver of employment in the County. Workforce development initiatives in Marin County, and specifically those in Marin City and the Canal, Marin’s identified low-income communities and communities of color, are responding to this need by supporting training and job placement in the health care and construction sectors.

MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis Discussion

Are there areas where households with multiple housing problems are concentrated? (include a definition of "concentration")

As previously discussed in the Needs Assessment section of this Consolidated Plan, low income households and residents belonging to a racial/ethnic minority group are more affected by housing problems.

Marin County has three areas that experience higher rates of housing problems the Canal Area of San Rafael, Marin City and West Marin. Both the Canal and Marin City have high numbers of minority residents and have higher concentrations of low-income residents in condensed communities. Whereas, West Marin is a larger region of rural and agricultural lands with a population of non-migratory workers that face higher rates of housing problems with fewer community resources to address them. 

Are there any areas in the jurisdiction where racial or ethnic minorities or low-income families are concentrated? (include a definition of "concentration")

The county has two areas of minority concentration: the Canal (located within census tracts 1122.01 and 122.02) has an area of two square miles and is governed by the City of San Rafael and Marin City (census tract 1290), which is located about 5 miles north of San Francisco and is part of the unincorporated area of the County. Both of these communities the highest incidence of poverty and the highest concentration of Black African/American (Marin City) and Hispanic/Latinx (Canal) residents.

What are the characteristics of the market in these areas/neighborhoods?

Canal Neighborhood of San Rafael

Originally developed in the 1950’s, the Canal area of San Rafael is a residential and industrial neighborhood that gets its name from the canal that was dredged along San Rafael Creek.  The Canal (located within census tracts 1122.01 and 122.02) has an area of two square miles and is governed by the City of San Rafael and is not in the unincorporated area of the County. According to the 2020 AI, the Canal area housing stock was first developed as apartments for young couples and new college graduates. "The housing stock was largely studios and small apartments not really intended for families," says Tom Wilson, former Executive Director of Canal Alliance. Today, the Canal’s population is almost 90% immigrants from Central and South American and Southeast Asia. There are large numbers of families (?) living in rental apartments and residents often live in overcrowded conditions. Educational outcomes are alarmingly low, with over half the adults lacking a high school diploma. The typical worker in the Canal neighborhood earns just over $21,000, about the same as an American worker in the late 1960s.

The Canal is served by the San Rafael City Schools district. As is often the case the schools serving this community have lower test scores than other schools in the district. Of the County’s 2018 high school graduates, Latinx students represented the highest number of students who did not complete high school in Marin. Twenty-five percent (25%) of Latinx students did not complete high school compared with 7% of White students.

In the Canal, 37.2% of households are considered Limited English Proficient, or LEP.  In general, these are individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. In the Canal, 79.9% of households speak a language other than English, and 66.4% are considered Spanish speaking only.  In the entire County of Marin, only 4.3% of households are considered LEP, 23.3% speak a language other than English, and 10.5% are Spanish speaking only.

The number of Canal residents experiencing poverty in 2017 was 31%, which was an increase of 60.2% since 2010. Asian residents in the Canal experienced the greatest increase in poverty rates representing an 84.4% increase, followed by Latinx residents with an increase of 54%, and White residents increased by 31.4%.  African Americans living in the Canal showed a decrease in poverty rates by 64.3%.

Marin City

Originally developed to support the workforce of the World War II ship building industry, Marin City was once considered the most integrated community in the Country – and the County. After the war, Black veterans and members of the ship building community were restricted by government policy to living in Marin City, while their White counterparts were able to purchase homes with mortgages that were guaranteed by the Federal Government outside of Marin City. Marin City is home today to the county’s historical Black/African American community. In addition, it is the location of the county’s only family Public Housing site, Golden Gate Village, which provide 300 units in 28 apartment housing built in the late 1950’s and completed in 60’s ranging in size from one- to five-stories.

In the decades since more multi-family and affordable housing has been developed as part of the community’s master plan, Marin City USA.  Between 1995 and 2000, 255 apartments, 85 townhomes, and 30 homeownership units were completed. These developments have led to shifting demographics in the community and led to gentrification and displacement of the African American community.  The 2017 American Community Survey, the population of Marin City was 30% African American, 28% Latinx, 24% White, and 9% Asian.  Between 2010 and 2017, the population of Marin City increased from 2,359 to 2,686, a 13.9% increase.  The Latinx population represented the largest growth rate of 121.1%, followed by a 9.8% increase in White residents. Asian residents decreased by 9.8% and African American residents decreased by 18.5%. Thirty-two percent (32%) of the residents speak a non-English language and 85.2% are U.S. citizens.  In 2017, 14% of Marin City residents were identified as Limited English Proficient, or LEP, compared to 4% of the entire County.

The overall poverty rate for Marin City households in 2017 was 25%, which is a decrease of 19.5% since 2010.  White household poverty rates in Marin City decreased by 68%, and the poverty rates for African Americans went down by 59.4%.  During that same period of time, the poverty rate for Asian households in Marin City increased by 46.9% and the poverty rate for Latinx households increased by 743.9%.

Over the years, student enrollment in the Sausalito Marin City School District has changed significantly.  White student enrollment has increased by 375.7% from 2003 – 2018.  Latinx student enrollment has increased by 206.3%, and Asian student enrollment has increased by 683.3%. African Americans were the only race that showed a decrease in enrollment by 36%.

Most students from the Sausalito Marin City School District attend Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley. According to the AI, students of color from Marin City who attend Tamalpais High School consistently report not feeling welcomed or included. In 2016, 0% of African American students in Marin felt connected to their school.

After a 2-year investigation, in August of 2019, the California State Justice Department concluded that the Sausalito Marin City School District had “knowingly and intentionally maintained and exacerbated” existing racial segregation and deliberately established a segregated school and diverted County staff and resources to Willow Creek while depriving the students at Bayside MLK an equal educational opportunity.

Are there any community assets in these areas/neighborhoods?

Both the Canal and Marin City have strong nonprofits partners working to improve the lives of residents and advocate community needs to local and state government. Both communities have Federally Qualified Health Clinic’s (FQHC) and community centers providing activities and space for convening.

In Marin City, the Marin City Community Services District provides public parks and recreation, street lighting, and refuse collection services to Marin City residents. Further, the District provides public leadership in all matters that affect the community, including economic development, education, health and wellness, public safety, physical infrastructure, transportation, zoning, signage, land use planning, housing, and redevelopment. The Marin City Community Development Corporation (MCCDC) was established in 1979 to improve the economic quality of life for Marin City residents. Toward this end, MCCDC promotes business opportunities, creates income-generating programs, promotes full employment, builds skills, and promotes the concept of economic self-sufficiency. The Marin City Health & Wellness Center, an FQHC, provides primary health, dental and behavioral health care to residents. Performing Stars transforms the lives of low-income, primarily multicultural, children throughout Marin County by using enrichment programs to build pride, character, discipline and self-esteem.

In the Canal, Canal Alliance, incorporated in 1982, is a comprehensive community resource center that helps low-income, immigrants through access to health and social services, youth development, economic security, and citizenship. They provide the full spectrum of immigrant integration initiatives under one roof to address barriers to immigrant integration. Multicultural Center of Marin works with the community to provide youth & family empowerment, community resilience, and arts. The Marin Community Clinic, an FQHC, provides primary health, dental and behavioral health care to residents. In addition, the Canal was recently identified as an Opportunity Zone in the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, opening the door for outside investment in the community.

Are there other strategic opportunities in any of these areas?

Investing in childcare, preschool, and ongoing youth development programs will increase educational outcomes. Investing in education/job readiness and training programs are proven methods for lifting families out of poverty. Investing in parks, playgrounds, community facilities, and community infrastructure increase safety and adds to the overall quality of life for residents.

As new investments from outside investors come into these neighborhoods there is addition opportunities but must be done with a lens toward preventing gentrification. To this end it is important for local government to have strong renter protections and anti-displacement policies coupled with access to economic opportunity needs to be considered as part of public investments.

MA-60 Broadband Needs of Housing occupied by Low- and Moderate-Income Households - 91.210(a)(4), 91.310(a)(2)

Describe the need for broadband wiring and connections for households, including low- and moderate-income households and neighborhoods.

In Marin County, most households have access to broadband internet. According to the 2018 ACS, 90.5% of households had access to broadband of any type, while 9.2% had no internet access at all. Broken down by income levels, there are disparities in how many households are connected via broadband internet. For households making less than $20,000 a year, 73.3% had access to broadband internet, while 26.2% had no internet access. For households making between $20,000 and $74,999, 82.0% had access to broadband internet, while 17.5% were without an internet subscription. For households earning over $75,000, 96.3% had access to broadband internet, while 3.5% were without internet access.

In Marin’s identified low-income and moderate-income communities, the same drastic disparities are seen. In Marin City, 21.5% of household had no internet subscription, for those earning below $20,000 a year, 33.1% did not have access and for those earning between $20,000 and $74,999 a year, 26.0% did not have access. In the Canal, 24.7% of households had no internet subscription, for those earning below $20,000, 38.6% did not have access and for those earning between $20,000 and $74,999 a year, 27.7% did not have access. In West Marin, the connectivity needs are largely impacted by the spread out and rural nature of this part of the county. Here, 15.9% of households had no internet subscription, for those earning less than $20,000 a year, 35.9% did not have access and for those earning between $20,000 and $74,999 a year, 24.0% did not have access.

Describe the need for increased competition by having more than one broadband Internet service provider serve the jurisdiction.

There had been discussion in Marin County beginning in 2018 around the change to a 5G network in the county. This change would have created faster internet connectivity due to the higher-frequency waves that make up the 5G network. However, since these waves do not travel as far as 4G, there was a need to increase the number of transmitters throughout the county, which was met with much community resistance at several Board of Supervisors meetings, due to perceived health concerns.

Currently, in some Marin County communities, there are not many choices available for internet providers. In fact, depending on the area, there are large disparities in the number of options. For example, most of West Marin and Novato has a range of 0 to 2 providers, while most areas of Central Marin have 4-5+ providers [42].

MA-65 Hazard Mitigation - 91.210(a)(5), 91.310(a)(3)

 Describe the jurisdiction’s increased natural hazard risks associated with climate change.

The two greatest risks to Marin County from climate change are wildfire and increased flooding from sea level rise. Other impacts from climate change, such as drought and increased heat health days, also pose risks and are likely to exacerbate the risks from wildfire and sea level rise. Marin County’s 2018 Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MCM LHMP), and two sea level rise vulnerability assessments address these risks.

Wildfire - The MCM LHMP finds that, wildfire poses the greatest risk to human life and property in Marin County’s densely populated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), which holds an estimated 69,000 living units. Marin County is home to 23 communities listed on CAL FIRE’s Communities at Risk list, with approximately 80% of the total land area in the county designated as having moderate to very high fire hazard severity ratings. The county has a long fire history with many large fires over the past decades, several of which have occurred in the WUI. To compound the issue, continuous growth (and overgrowth) of vegetation creates dangerous fuel loads.

The mix of weather, diverse vegetation and fuel characteristics, complex topography, and land use and development patterns in Marin County are important contributors to the fire environment. Weather in the county consists of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Late summer to early fall is the driest time of year and can bring a shift in wind patterns that make wildfires particularly dangerous. Insect infestations and plant diseases, such as California oak mortality syndrome (sudden oak death), are increasing and threaten to change the structure and overall health of native plant communities in Marin County. These dead and dying trees have created large swaths of land with dense and dry fuel loads.

MCM LHMP includes mitigation measures that address the following:

Pre-fire planning.

Public education and outreach to promote and implement fire adapted community practices.

Vegetation management and fuel reduction at the county and community levels.

Reducing structure ignitability by promoting and enforcing building codes, ordinances, and statutes.

The State of California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment found that “by 2100 the average annual maximum daily temperature is projected to increase by 5.6°F - 8.8°F,” where the highest increase would occur under a business as usual approach. The most important finding in this assessment related to wildfire is that if carbon pollution “continues to increase, the frequency of extreme wildfires would increase, and the average area burned statewide would increase by 77 percent.”

In addition to the immediate risk wildfires pose to public safety, wildfire smoke causes upper respiratory problems and long-term exposure can have lasting health impacts. This is of particular concern in Marin County, where the at-risk areas are located close to urban areas. Climate change will also increase the number of heat health events, which occur when temperatures are uncomfortably hot and induce health issues, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke. On average in the County, such events are projected to increase by 3-4 events per year, bringing totals in some areas to over seven per year between 2041-2060. These events typically occur during the hottest time of year, which also coincides with wildfire season. Where wildfires coincide with temperature extremes, the County’s emergency services could be strained well beyond capacity.

Sea Level Rise - Much of existing development sits along waterways, bays, or the open coast, and much of that is within the National Flood Insurance Program’s 100-year floodplain. Recognizing the potential increased risks to public safety and infrastructure maintenance costs, in 2016, the County completed the Collaboration Sea level Marin Adaptation Response Team (C-SMART) Vulnerability Assessment for Marin’s Pacific Ocean Coast. In 2017, the County completed the Bay Waterfront Adaptation and Vulnerability Evaluation (BayWAVE) to assess vulnerability to sea level rise along its San Francisco Bay shoreline.

Sea level in the San Francisco Bay Area has risen eight inches in the past century and could rise up to seventy inches by 2100. Marin’s coastline and shoreline are vulnerable to sea level rise and changing storm patterns that accompany climate change. Along the coast, a near-term scenario is considered to include 10 inches of sea level rise with a 20-year storm. The impacts included flooding of, 2,054 acres, 110 agricultural acres (mostly ranch), 569 acres of aquaculture, and 588 homes & businesses, which would impact 3,000+ residents plus tourists. The damages would further include, $561 million in assessed property value, 2.3 miles of wet road, 2 ports, 1 marina, 1 boat launch, erosion of beaches, tidal marshes, eelgrass beds, and estuaries. Others impacted include, property owners, County of Marin, Caltrans, Bolinas Public Utility, Stinson Beach Water, Fire Districts, National Parks Service, California State Parks, and AT&T. The medium-term scenario was considered to include 20 inches of sea level rise with a 20-year storm. The impacts include flooding of an additional 10 acres, 92 homes, 62 agricultural acres, as well as businesses, & institutions. Erosion could further impact beaches and impact 148 properties. The damages would increase in cost by $232 million in assessed property value.

Along the bay shoreline, where most of the County’s development and supportive infrastructure lies, a largely similar near-term scenario would flood 5,000 acres and as much as 8,000 acres flooded with a 100-year storm surge, 2,000 agricultural acres (mostly ranch), 4,500 homes, businesses, & institutions. Flooding would impact 200,000+ residents plus commuting employees and damage or inundate 30 miles of road, 3 ferry landings, 5 marinas, 4 boat launches as well as important habitats like beaches, tidal marshes, wetlands, and eelgrass beds. Others impacted include property owners, County of Marin municipalities, Caltrans, sanitary districts, water districts, fire districts, Sausalito Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, Golden Gate Bridge Highway Transportation District, Transportation Authority of Marin, California, PG&E, and AT&T. Under the medium-term scenario, additional flooding would occur on 17,00 acres and as much as an addition 5,500 acres with a 100-year storm surge, and 1,100 homes. Impacts to habitat areas would also worsen, leaving much or them beyond restorable.

The County has been actively working with local communities on sea level rise issues and its impending effect on communities. Through both C-SMART and BayWAVE efforts are being focused on sea level rise awareness, education and preparedness in key communities, such as West Marin, Marin City, the Canal District of San Rafael, and parts of Novato.

Describe the vulnerability to these risks of housing occupied by low- and moderate-income households based on an analysis of data, findings, and methods.

The Canal Neighborhood - located in the City of San Rafael, this densely populated urban community has the lowest incomes in the County. The median annual income is $30,481, which is lower than the median annual income in 92.5 percent of California’s census tracts. The Canal Neighborhood population is about 70 percent Central and South American in origin and Spanish or native languages are typically spoken at home. Compared to other communities in the study area, Canal residents are younger, families are larger, and residents are primarily renters (Census 2010). Almost one-half of residents are housing cost burdened, paying more than 30 percent or more of their income for housing.[43] Canal Neighborhood residents own fewer cars and depend on transit.[44] These residents are disproportionately vulnerable to sea level rise and are some of the first people impacted by sea level rise at their front doors. Flooding in the Canal area has a long history. Records identify 20 historical flood events. Two large events occurred in 1982 and 1983. Through the 2000’s the creek has experience smaller flood events during winter storm conditions. Much of the development in the Canal area is built near the creek or near the bay on fill or land that has subsided. It is already designated as part of the 100-year floodplain. Sea level rise will compound flooding issues in the area. The Canal Neighborhood with just 10 inches of sea level rise will put the majority of buildings at risk in addition to primary public transportation routes and roads that are also subject to flooding under the same scenario. Under the medium-term scenario, flooding in most of the Canal area would be six to eight feet deep[45].

While current and future flooding are the greatest natural hazards in the Canal area, any natural disaster that prevents low-income residents from getting to and from work or creates additional health challenges difficult for this population. A wildfire within the WUI on the opposite side of San Rafael Creek could close roads to through traffic or require evacuation due to dangerous air quality conditions. Low-income communities and communities of color are less likely to have the resources and capacity to prepare for and recover from extreme climate events. Evacuation alone can be expensive; given that fewer than 40 percent of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency, most families, and especially lower-income households, need federal, state, and local support for preparedness and recovery costs.[46]

Marin City - Located in unincorporated Marin County between the Tamalpais Valley community and the City of Sausalito, Marin City has a population of 2,666, about 27% of which are Black or African American. The median annual household income is $37,617, which is lower than 82.8 percent of California’s census tracts. The median annual household income in Marin County is $126,373. While Marin City’s median annual household income is in the 17.2 percentile, those of surrounding communities are in the 96.5 and 98 percentiles. Residents of Marin City are primarily renters and rely on public transportation. Donahue Street is the only road in and out of Marin City, which is problematic in any hazard event that requires evacuation. Additionally, Donahue Street connects at Bridgeway Boulevard at an intersection where on ramps and off ramps to Highway 101 are also located. Marin City is located adjacent to the WUI and in the event of a fire on the steep slopes above it, small residential roads offer the only fire breaks. Like the Canal area, wildfire in the area could require evacuation due to dangerous air quality conditions, not to mention the risk of fire itself. In an event where a quick evacuation is necessary, the residents of Marin City may face difficulties getting out.

Most of Marin City sits around 23 feet above sea level. However, the intersection of Donahue Street and Bridgeway Boulevard already floods during the highest tides of the year (King Tides). In events where King Tides are combined with storm events, the intersection can be impassable, leaving residents stranded. With just 10 inches of sea level rise, the intersection would be permanently flooded. In the medium-term scenario, flooding extends further up Donahue Street into the community. Only under BayWAVES’s long-term scenario do residences within Marin City begin to flood. However, without another route in and out of Marin City, residents will suffer loss of income for every flood event and such events will occur more frequently as sea level rises.

West Marin - The rural West Marin census tract covers a large area with a great deal of income disparity. Within the tract are a number of ranches and five coastal villages: Olema, Point Reyes Station, Inverness, East Shore, and Dillon Beach. The median annual household income is $49,375, which is below 66.3 percent of California census tracts. Low-income populations are spread throughout the area. One place identified as having low-income residents is Point Reyes Station. The area around Point Reyes station is one of the most susceptible to flooding that would impact roads and other supporting infrastructure. Lawson’s Landing in Dillon Beach at the tip of Tomales Bay is another area with low-income residents. The area itself is subject to flooding in the medium-term scenario and Highway 1, the major road in and out of the area, is subject to flooding and erosion from sea level rise under all scenarios.

Perhaps the largest population of low-income residents in West Marin is migrant farm workers who staff the ranches throughout the area. The ranches are located outside of areas subject to flooding. However, they are at risk from increased wildfire events. The ranches are located in West Marin’s grasslands, which have the potential to experience higher rates of fire spread. Grassland fires are dangerous even without extreme fire weather scenarios due to the rapid rate of fire spread: in some cases, fires spread so quickly that large areas can burn before response resources are able to arrive.

 


 

[1] Income- ACS Table B25119 2018, Rent- Zillow

[2] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP04

[3] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25119

[4] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1702

[5] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B17019

[6] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1702

[7] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25070

[8] 2018 Zillow Home Values

[9]2018 Zillow Home Values

[10] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25119

[11] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25003H, I and B

[12] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25042

[13] “Family Housing” are rental units not deed restricted for seniors, disabled housing, permanent supportive housing, or transitional & shelter housing, it is not required for families with children to live in these units. 

[14] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S2503

[15] 2018 Zillow Home Values

[16] Assumes a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 4.6% rate

[17] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B19019

[18] 2013-2018 American Community Survey table B25077 5-year estimates

[19] 2013-2018 American Community Survey table B25058 5-year estimates

[20] Gross rent is defined as the amount of rent excluding additional expenses such as utilities, taxes, etc. Contract rent is defined as the dollar amount of rental obligation as specified in the lease

[21] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25063 

[22] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25056

[23] HAMFI is HUD Area Median Family Income

[24] 2020 Marin County Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, page 51

[25] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25119

[26] 2018 Zillow Rental Housing

[27]  2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25119

[28] 2018 HOME Program Rents

[29] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Tables B17019 and B25012

[30] Transition to Wellness, Homeward Bound of Marin. https://hbofm.org/about-homeward-bound-of-marin/homeless-adults/

[31] 2019. “Marin plans psychiatric housing at San Rafael site”. Marin Independent Journal. https://www.marinij.com/2019/05/05/marin-plans-psychiatric-housing-at-san-rafael-site/

[32] HHS 2019 Request For Letters Of Interest for Transitional Residential Program

[33] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, TableDP03

[34] 2017 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

[35] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, TableDP03

[36] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, TableB23001

[37] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, TableS2301

[38] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B23006

[39] 2018. “Good news and bad news in Bay Area’s 10 worst commutes”. Marin Independent Journal. https://www.marinij.com/2018/10/24/good-news-and-bad-news-in-bay-areas-10-worst-commutes/

[40] Marin Economic Forum. “Marin’s Pathway to Economic Prosperity”. http://www.marineconomicforum.org/news/marins-pathway-to-economic-prosperity/

[41] 2013-2018 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1501

[42] Broadband Now. Internet Service Providers in San Rafael and Marin County. https://broadbandnow.com/California/San-Rafael

[43] Human Impact Partners. 2013. Healthy Marin Partnership. Community Health Needs Assessment Sub-county Health Indicators

[44] Census 2010

[45] ART Flood Explorer

[46] Fourth National Climate Change Assessment

Strategic Planning

Strategic Plan

SP-05 Overview

Strategic Plan Overview

The County's goals are derived from community outreach and research conducted for both this report and the 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, which has spanned the past 3 years. The single greatest obstacle is that needs far exceed services and available funds. It is the County's goal to support projects which serve the neediest in Marin and provide the greatest impact within the constraints of limited funding.

Marin County's strategy for meeting the housing needs identified in this plan is to leverage federal, state and local resources in order to fund acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental and homeownership housing opportunities. 

Marin County will continue to place the highest priority on projects that serve low, very low, and extremely low-income individuals and households; projects that serve members of the protected classes, and projects that Affirmatively Further Fair Housing and have the commitment and capacity to engage in Affirmative Marketing. 

By way of the County’s 2019 Voluntary Compliance Agreement with HUD, creating affordable family housing outside areas of minority concentration is a priority. Additionally, the AI, identified establishing a land trust model in eastern Marin that provides homeownership opportunities, with specific inclusion for African Americans is prioritized.

The County of Marin has identified the following goals for the 2020-24 Consolidated Plan:

Housing - Families and individuals are stably housed

Down Payment Assistance for First-time Homebuyers

Homeowner Housing – Acquisition, Construction, and Rehabilitation

Rental Housing – Acquisition, Construction, and Rehabilitation

Special Needs Housing – Acquisition, Construction, and Rehabilitation

 

Community Infrastructure and Capital Projects - Communities have vibrant and safe public and social infrastructure

Accessibility Improvements

Community Facility and Space improvements

Homeless Shelters improvements

 

Public Services - Families and individuals are resilient and able to thrive

Basic Health Services

Children, Youth, and Parent Support Services

Domestic Violence Services

Economic Development Assistance for Business including Microenterprise

Education and Job Training

Food Security

Housing Support Services

Legal Services

Senior Services

Subsistence Payments

 

SP-10 Geographic Priorities – 91.215 (a)(1)

Geographic Area

Table 45 - Geographic Priority Areas

1.

AreaName:

Communities of Minority Concentration

%ofLow/Mod:

 

Identify the neighborhood boundaries for this target area.

The Canal neighborhood of San Rafael (Census Tract 1122.01 and 1122.02) and Marin City of unincorporated Marin County (Census Tract 1290)

Include specific housing and commercial characteristics of this target area.

See MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis

How did your consultation and citizen participation process help you to identify this neighborhood as a target area?

As Marin’s only two Low/Mod Census tracts, and areas of minority they are priority areas for investment.

Identify the needs in this target area.

Both community’s needs are vast and span quality affordable housing, community and public infrastructure and spaces, and public services to stabilize families and individuals.

What are the opportunities for improvement in this target area?

Opportunities for improvement include community and public infrastructure and spaces, and public services to stabilize families and individuals.

Are there barriers to improvement in this target area?

Per the County’s Voluntary Compliance Agreement with HUD, funds cannot be used in these communities for affordable housing.

2.

AreaName:

Countywide Areas with High-Need Populations

%ofLow/Mod:

 

Identify the neighborhood boundaries for this target area.

Includes communities outside of Low/Mod Census tracts with low-income populations including, but not limited to West Marin, parts of Novato, mobile-home parks, and liveaboard houseboat communities.

Include specific housing and commercial characteristics of this target area.

Varies greatly between urban corridors, suburban communities and rural ranch and park lands.

How did your consultation and citizen participation process help you to identify this neighborhood as a target area?

These communities are regularly identified by services providers and local government representatives in consultation.

Identify the needs in this target area.

Both community’s needs are vast and span quality affordable housing, community and public infrastructure and spaces, and public services to stabilize families and individuals.

What are the opportunities for improvement in this target area?

Opportunities for improvement include community and public infrastructure and spaces, housing rehabilitation, and public services to stabilize families and individuals.

Are there barriers to improvement in this target area?

Not being Low/Mod Census tracts places more requirements on investing in community and public infrastructure and spaces.

3.

AreaName:

Countywide areas of opportunity

%ofLow/Mod:

 

Identify the neighborhood boundaries for this target area.

Includes communities outside of Low/Mod Census tracts with abundant access transportation, services, high performing schools.

Include specific housing and commercial characteristics of this target area.

Largely suburban communities composed of mostly single-family homes, limited multi-family homes, and modest commercial space clustered around town centers and in small shop-ettes/strip malls.

How did your consultation and citizen participation process help you to identify this neighborhood as a target area?

These communities are regularly identified in consultation as prime locations to build affordable housing to Affirmatively Further Fair housing.

Identify the needs in this target area.

These areas need more affordable housing options.

What are the opportunities for improvement in this target area?

Opportunities for improvement include developing new affordable housing and rehabilitating older homes occupied by low-income and special needs households. Additionally, investing in public services that serve low-income and special needs populations in these communities.

Are there barriers to improvement in this target area?

Community opposition is the largest barrier.

 

General Allocation Priorities - Describe the basis for allocating investments geographically within the jurisdiction (or within the EMSA for HOPWA)

The County distributes funds throughout the entire county and has cooperation agreements to administer CDBG and HOME funds on behalf of all city and town jurisdictions. Two cities with cooperation agreements have a population of over 50,000 making them eligible to be independent entitlement communities. Due to this, the allocation structure contains three planning areas with opportunities to provide input on funding allocations. The three planning areas are County Other, Novato, and San Rafael. Projects may request funding from a specific planning area or as a Countywide project. Each planning area receives a proportional share of overall entitlement funding using the demographic formula used by HUD nationally to allocate CDBG funding.

CDBG funds are distributed within Marin County in the following manner. Twenty percent (20%) of funds are available for administration, fifteen percent (15%) of funds are available for public services, forty percent (40%) of funds are available for housing, and the remaining funds are available for community infrastructure/capital projects or housing activities. 

Centralizing the distribution of funds provides opportunities to create economies of scale and streamline administration; while also allowing to more seamlessly leverage federal, state, and local funds.


SP-25 Priority Needs - 91.215(a)(2)

Priority Needs

 

Need Name

Priority Level

Description

Basis for Relative Priority

1

Affordable Housing

High

Acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction of rental and ownership housing for extre