Marin supervisors declare shelter crisis, adopt emergency housing standards for unincorporated county

The Marin County Board of Supervisors on March 11 declared a shelter crisis for unincorporated Marin County and adopted an urgency ordinance that temporarily amends the county building code to allow emergency housing standards during the declared crisis.

County staff said the action gives the county, nonprofits and private property owners a limited set of regulatory flexibilities under state law to stand up interim shelters — such as RV or cabin-style accommodations, mobile homes or similar temporary units — for people the county defines as homeless. "This is a targeted solution to our shelter crisis, and it is meant to serve people who are unsheltered or undersheltered as an interim measure to protect their health and safety," Community Development Agency planner Sarah Jones told the board.

The action follows staff presentations from Health and Human Services and Community Development Agency staff that framed the step as an enabling measure, not a funding decision. "The shelter crisis…