HHS proposes homelessness prevention pilot with All Home and Marin Community Foundation; seeks county match
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Summary
Health and Human Services presented an update on Marin's Housing First work and proposed a homeless‑prevention pilot funded by All Home and the Marin Community Foundation, with staff asking the board to consider a $1 million county match to support short‑term rental assistance and case management for households at high risk of homelessness.
Health and Human Services Director Dr. Lisa Varhous and homelessness director Gary Najaris briefed the Board of Supervisors on May 19 on Marin County’s Housing First efforts, current system strengths and gaps, and the department’s proposal to pilot a homelessness prevention program in partnership with All Home and the Marin Community Foundation.
Background and Housing First results: HHS reported that since 2017 the county has housed hundreds of people through a Housing First approach and temporary and permanent housing programs. The department said it has achieved high retention rates for people placed into supportive housing and cited specific successes for chronically homeless individuals, veterans and families housed through county and state programs.
System barriers and new pressures: HHS warned that emerging federal and state budget changes and broader economic pressures are increasing risks for households and for the county’s ability to sustain housing placements. HHS staff also noted the loss of some state prevention funding streams referenced by public commenters; staff said the governor’s May revise did not include a line item that had supported a program known locally as HomeSafe and that Marin’s prior allocation is no longer in the May revise. (The Marin presenters said Marin’s allocation is not specified in the presentation.) HHS also reiterated concerns about potential reductions in federal voucher funding and said officials are monitoring impacts and reviewing contingency options.
Prevention pilot with All Home and Marin Community Foundation: HHS described an initial plan to develop a homelessness prevention pilot using a model championed by All Home, the regional nonprofit. All Home has offered to invest $1,000,000 and Marin Community Foundation has proposed an additional $500,000; HHS said staff will seek a county one‑time match of $1,000,000 to create a pilot fund. The proposed pilot would use targeting tools to prioritize households most likely to enter homelessness and offer a combination of short‑term rental assistance and case management to stabilize them. County staff said they would issue an RFP for a provider to administer the pilot and would track outcomes and cost effectiveness.
Other innovations and next steps: HHS said the county will continue to expand interim shelter capacity where possible under the shelter emergency declaration, seek additional supportive housing and use case conferencing to head off evictions. Staff will return with a proposed program design, RFP documents and a request for funding action if the board directs the county to pursue the proposed match.
Public comment and stakeholders: Speakers from homeless service providers, philanthropic partners and community agencies supported prevention strategies and urged the county to move with urgency. Staff asked the board to consider the pilot as a complementary approach to Housing First rather than a replacement for shelter or permanent supportive housing.
Action requested: This presentation was informational; staff asked for guidance and flagged a potential request for a one‑time county contribution to match external foundation funding in a subsequent board item.
