Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – Starting March 20, a series of community meetings throughout Marin County will shed light on a new report that shows how the affordable housing crisis has affected displacement in the region.
Marin is experiencing sustained population loss, with a net migration loss of 18.4 people per 1,000 households as of 2023. Low-income households are disproportionately impacted by the population loss, with a net loss of 33.5 people per 1,000 households. Workforce shortages are tied to the county’s aging population.
Affordability – and lack of it – is a contributing factor as well, according to the report from Rooted in Marin, an education initiative led by the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) and the county’s cities and towns to understand resident displacement. The report found that fewer working-age adults (25-44 years old) and young families can afford to live in Marin because of rents that rank the third highest in the entire state. That local unaffordability is requiring many of local workers to commute from outside the county to jobs in Marin.
Forty-six percent of the county population is considered low-income. Black and Latinx households represent higher proportions of that sector relative to their population size. The sum of White low-income residents is greater than the sum of all other racial and ethnic groups combined.
With the release of the report, Marin CDA will collaborate with nonprofit partner Community Action Marin to communicate the report’s findings to those who are directly impacted and key stakeholders. The goal will be to maximize all available resources to keep those in lower-income households from experiencing homelessness or moving away.
The full data and findings from the report will be presented at a series of public briefings, offering the community a chance to engage and ask questions. These briefings are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. Spanish interpretation available. Here is the briefing schedule.
- Thursday, March 20, 6-7:30 PM - West Marin: Point Reyes Presbyterian, 11445 Highway One, Point Reyes Station
- Monday, March 31, 6-7:30 PM - Southern Marin: Marin City Senior Center, 640 Drake Avenue, Sausalito
- Monday, April 7, 6-7:30 PM - Northern Marin: North Marin Community Services, 680 Wilson Avenue, Novato
- Friday, April 18, 6-7:30 PM - Central Marin: Canal Alliance, 91 Larkspur Street, San Rafael
To produce the new report, the partners hired a consultant, Community Planning Collaborative to facilitate engagement with populations most negatively impacted by displacement and asked them about community needs and goals.
The draft report findings can be reviewed in English and Spanish on the Rooted in Marin website.
"This collaborative is the first step toward addressing these commitments, helping to inform anti-displacement strategies, and facilitate meaningful discussions around housing and displacement," said CDA’s Jillian Zeiger. “We’re glad that jurisdictions across Marin have committed to anti-displacement programs and policies in their Housing Elements, which means they are all accountable and we have similar goals. Rooted in Marin is designed to expand options for our residents to remain in their homes and neighborhoods, foster community stability, and prevent more homelessness."
The Rooted in Marin partner agencies plan to use the report and the briefings feedback to address collective anti-displacement strategies. Learn more about Marin CDA’s Housing and Grants programs and Marin’s Housing First initiative to reduce homelessness
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For disability accommodations, please phone (415) 473-6358 (voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail the Digital Accessibility Team at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.