New Program Aims To Keep Residents From Becoming Homeless In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County has launched a new program aimed at helping residents stay housed before a financial or personal crisis pushes them into homelessness.

Keep People Housed Marin is a two-year initiative led by Marin County Health and Human Services' Division of Homelessness and Coordinated Care in partnership with Bay Area Community Services and All Home.

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The program will provide targeted financial assistance and individualized support to residents who are housed but face a heightened risk of losing their housing.

"Marin has a strong system that helps people move from homelessness into housing. We also need to reduce the number of people who become homeless," said Dr. Lisa Warhuus, assistant county executive and HHS director. "Keep People Housed Marin provides a new upstream approach to identify households at highest risk and support their housing stability before a crisis occurs."

The program will prioritize residents based on their vulnerability rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. Meeting the program's general eligibility requirements does not guarantee financial assistance.

Households facing imminent eviction, significant rent arrears, previous episodes of homelessness, or other serious housing instability may qualify. Families with children and people with disabling conditions are among those the program is designed to serve.

The program follows All Home's regional homelessness prevention model. The organization said an analysis of its prevention programs across the Bay Area found that targeted assistance reached about 25,000 households, with 92 percent of surveyed households remaining housed one year later.

Funding comes through Marin's Affordable Housing and Homelessness Initiative. The Marin Community Foundation, Marin County and All Home each contributed $1 million, with additional county resources bringing the total programming investment to an estimated $3 million over two years.

Bay Area Community Services plans to serve at least 170 households each year.

Residents can learn more about the program and apply through the Keep People Housed Marin website.