Body of News Release
San Rafael, CA – New County of Marin funding is earmarked to facilitate the renovation of a Sausalito home that will help former residents of a homeless encampment.
The Dorothy Gibson House Renovation Project, named after a woman who bequeathed the property at 429½ Johnson Street, is deed-restricted to serve as low- or moderate-income housing. The City of Sausalito has worked with Gibson’s heirs to expand a bequeathment from one housing unit to additionally include a second unit for someone who had lived at the nearby homeless encampment along the city’s waterfront.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors on March 5 authorized an amendment to an existing contract, adding $500,000 in County funds to a $500,000 state homeless services award for a total investment of $1 million in Sausalito, including over $800,000 for the new housing project. The move was a financial match to the State of California’s commitment for the project.
Thanks to the efforts of State Senator Mike McGuire, the County received funding in 2023 to help "bridge the gap" for those in need from unsheltered settings to permanent supportive housing efforts underway around the County, including Sausalito. The initial $500,000 in state funds were passed through to the City of Sausalito in July 2023, with $305,000 dedicated to the Dorothy Gibson House project, and remaining costs relating to encampment needs, temporary housing reimbursement, and for a housing homeless coordinator.
The County’s $500,000 match will supplement the initial state investment, dedicated to the housing project to ensure its completion for a total of two units, including provision of a job training opportunity for part time or entry level employment of occupants who were formerly homeless.
Affordable housing and solutions to homelessness remain one of the top priorities for the County of Marin and the Board of Supervisors, aligning with responses from recent countywide community surveys. Funding to prevent homelessness is designed to stabilize the local homelessness population and assist with more permanent homes.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Sausalito on this project and are very grateful to State Senator Mike McGuire for his work with us toward permanent supportive housing efforts in Marin,” said Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters.
The City of Sausalito expects the project to include separating the two-story residence into two independent units, with an upper unit to include addition of a bedroom area where none currently exists and the lower unit to include addition of a restroom and converting the garage to livable space. Both units will include individual restrooms/baths.
The County’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) includes a Homelessness & Coordinated Care Division devoted to building sustainable, evidence-based systems of care across Marin’s health and social sectors. The County is dedicated to community partnerships with local jurisdictions and nonprofit agencies to help provide housing for the most vulnerable community members and keep them housed. Learn more on the Housing First webpage.