Affordable Housing Report
Marin County -- May 2005
KEY FACTS
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39% of all Marin County households earn incomes in the extremely low, very low and low-income categories as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and many are living in unaffordable housing situations.
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From 1993 to 2000, the median home sales price in Marin County increased from $314,250 to $523,000. In 2004, the average home price was $900,000.
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In Marin County, in order to be able to afford a two-bedroom unit, an hourly wage of $34.13 is required.
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Between 1999 and 2003, only 7% of the housing built in Marin was affordable, the lowest percentage of any county in the Bay Area.
HOUSING ELEMENTS
Seven Marin jurisdictions have Housing Elements approved by the State of California. These plans give a 5-year overview of needs, policies and plans.
- County of Marin
- Corte Madera (conditional)
- Larkspur
- Mill Valley
- Novato (conditional)
- San Anselmo
- San Rafael (conditional)
The other Housing Elements have been submitted and are under review.
TEN-YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS
An Ending Homelessness Committee has been formed by the Continuum of Housing And Services, and the County of Marin has shown commitment to moving ahead with a Plan.
NEW PROGRAMS
Business leaders have launched the Marin Work Force Housing Trust in partnership with the County of Marin and the Marin Community Foundation (MCF). The goal is $6 million. The capital campaign has begun.
The County of Marin, San Rafael and Corte Madera have adopted ordinances for a jobs/housing mitigation program, with new commercial development responsible for contributions for affordable housing needed by the new jobs created. Several other jurisdictions have plans to move ahead on this measure supported by advocates.
Improved inclusionary housing ordinances have been approved and improved in the jurisdictions with approved Housing Elements. San Rafael and Larkspur have moved inclusionary zoning to 20% of units. There is still work to do to maximize the inclusion of affordable homes whenever market rate homes are built.
PROGESS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
-- approved or under construction --
- Hamilton Transitional Housing, Phase I completed, Phase II under construction -- 60 units
- Church of God, Marin City -- 2
- Fireside, Mill Valley -- 50
- Drakes Way, Larkspur -- 24
- Point Reyes Family Homes -- 27
- San Clemente Family Homes -- 79
- Gates Cooperative -- 37 houseboats
- Old Mill Commons -- 10
- Meadow Park, Novato -- 648
- Tam House II -- 10
- Rotary Senior Housing, Sausalito -- 22
Below Market Rate inclusionary ownership homes approved:
- 40 -- Novato
- 38 -- San Rafael
- 6 -- County
PROPOSED
- Work Force Preparation apartments, Homeward Bound at Hamilton
- Senior Apartments by Mercy Housing at Hamilton
- Rehab/new apartments -- Bolinas Community Land Trust
- Under review: Below Market Rate inclusionary ownership homes:
- 18 -- Larkspur
- 18 -- San Rafael
CONTINUED WORK NEEDED
All housing elements need to be implemented.
Loss of funds proposed in the 2005 Federal Budget would hurt low income people and make affordable housing harder to create.
The Proposition 46 bond funds voted in 2002 will be spent by 2007, and new funding sources will be needed at the State level.
For housing information:
Housing AssistLine -- (415) 491-2345
www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/cd/main/housing/index.html
www.nlihc.org for information on federal budget and legislation
www.housingca.org for information on State housing issues
To get involved, contact Betty Pagett at bpagett@eahhousing.org.
or contact: