San Rafael, CA – To address a severe shortage of affordable housing, the County of Marin has made $1 million available to nonprofit applicants to develop and acquire affordable rentals for families. The funds are part of an effort to increase and preserve the number of affordable homes throughout Marin County.
The County of Marin is encouraging nonprofit developers to build affordable homes in Marin by offering $1 million in grant funding.
“The County of Marin is hoping to leverage these funds to provide rental homes for families, to provide stability and opportunity for children,” said Leelee Thomas, Housing Planning Manager for the
Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA).
The grants symbolize the commitment by the Marin County Board of Supervisors to encourage the development and acquisition of family rental housing all over Marin, including incorporated towns and cities. All five Supervisors list housing as one of their top priorities.
Marin has become one of the most expensive places to live in the United States, and the lack of affordable homes has been labeled as a local crisis. With local rents of around $3,000 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, many families struggle to pay for housing and other necessities like food and utilities.
CDA is accepting applications for the grant funding until 5 p.m. December 3. CDA anticipates disseminating the funding in early 2019.
Grant recipients would be responsible for all entitlements, construction and long-term management of the housing. CDA staff will provide technical assistance on topics such as site analysis, assistance with fee waivers, and conducting public outreach. Nonprofit housing developers that have not previously worked in Marin County are especially encouraged to apply.
Learn more on the County’s affordable housing webpage.