News Release —
STATEMENT: Response to Governor Newsom's Executive Order to Clear Homeless Encampments

 Homelessness remains a multifaceted challenge that requires a comprehensive approach: no single level of government is solely responsible. While the Governor’s Executive Order N-1-24 is focused on State lands, we anticipate it will guide future state support in this area. It also encourages local governments to adopt policies consistent with his order to state agencies. 

 Although the executive order and the recent Johnson v City of Grants Pass decision give local governments more tools for handling health and safety problems, local governments have a responsibility to use these tools judiciously to balance order with compassion.  

 The County of Marin and its partners – local cities, towns and nonprofit organizations – have been actively engaged in encampment resolution for years. Assisted by recent state funding, the County is continuing this collaborative work to implement evidence-based practices and meaningful, long-term solutions while preserving the dignity and safety of the unhoused. This includes providing unhoused residents with supportive services and connecting them with a pathway to permanent housing without simply relocating them to other areas to become another jurisdiction’s challenge.  

 Through three rounds of State Encampment Resolution Funds, Marin County has successfully connected many individuals from seven Marin encampments to permanent supportive housing and remains on track to meet State grant deadlines and ensuring that individuals are permanently housed. The County has also partnered with all 11 Marin municipalities to implement a High Utilization of City Services program, connecting dozens more people to permanent supportive housing and easing the burden on municipal services.  

 By enforcing state and county laws and introducing buy-back programs (i.e boats and recreational vehicles), for example, Marin has reduced the number of abandoned vessels and vehicles in key encampment areas. The Richardson Bay Regional Agency has also worked with the County and the Marin Housing Authority to house anchor-outs on Richardson’s Bay.  For those remaining in encampments we have devoted resources towards safety and sanitary conditions. 

 Our comprehensive approach is showing positive results. Since 2022, chronic homelessness has decreased by 23.59%, family homelessness by 12.33%, and Veteran homelessness by 32.31%. Since adopting the Housing First philosophy in 2017, we have housed 759 chronically homeless individuals, 113 Veterans, and 218 families. Unfortunately, widespread broader economic and systemic inequities stymie efforts statewide to support those who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused. 

 The County of Marin will use all available tools to address each unique situation and reduce homelessness in a compassionate way. We have and will continue humanely removing encampments, prioritizing those that present the greatest threat to life, health and safety. The only humane way to remove encampments is to focus on connecting residents to permanent housing and leveraging strategic partnerships and effective programs to continue to positively impact our community.