Policy
Call Marin Home uses the 3 Ps of affordable housing framework to guide its policy advocacy: production of new housing, preservation of existing affordable housing and tenant protections. We advocate for policy change on both the local and state level. We also track issues frequently raise in relationship with housing, such as traffic, single stair buildings, and water.
Affordable Housing Funding
Affordable housing is underfunded. There is not enough federal, state or local funding to build the amount of affordable housing to meet our housing goals. Marin has several approved 100% affordable housing projects that have been unable to obtain financing. One of Call Marin Home’s top priorities is creating funding for affordable housing. Our first step is supporting the $10B housing bond planned for the November 2026 ballot. This statewide bond is a first step in creating the funding we need.
Housing Elements
The Housing Element is a state mandated component of local governments’ general plans. It must be updated every 8 years. We are currently in the 6th housing element cycle, which began January 31, 2023. MEHC is tracking progress towards housing elements. Currently, Belvedere does not have a certified Housing Element and Sausalito has submitted yet another revised Housing Element.
Impact Fees
Impact fees are required charges for new housing developments to provide updates to public infrastructure, like roads, schools, community buildings, and more. These fees can inhibit affordable housing developments from being financially feasible projects.
Tenant Protections
Displacement is an urgent issue in Marin County. Every day, members of our workforce are being forced to leave the County and commute into work. In addition to the huge disruption these forced moves cause, these former residents add, on average, 32 miles to their commutes, increasing traffic and emissions. Marin County and Community Action Marin are collaborating on Rooted in Marin, a commmunity-centered project to engage and educate on displacement in Marin.
Preservation
One of the 3 Ps of affordable housing is preservation. This includes the preservation of already existing affordable units, new affordable units via deed restrictions, public housing, land trusts, and the preservation of tenant protections.
State Legislation
California has not built sufficient housing for its population for decades. It’s a fundamental reason our housing prices are so high and homelessness is so problematic. There are new housing laws that get proposed and passed in California that then are implemented in Marin County.
Homelessness
The cost of housing is the primary cause of homelessness, not addiction or mental illness. We cannot solve homelessness without addressing our housing crisis.
Lawsuits
Policy encompasses more than new laws and ordinances passed by the state and local towns. Housing is often a contentious issue, and the courts are frequently asked, via lawsuits, to provide opinions on how the rules work. Housing opponents have long made use of the courts to stop housing from being built. More recently, housing advocates have started using the courts to ensure that housing laws are enforced.
West Marin
West Marin in faces a unique set of obstacles in addressing its housing needs. The West Marin Housing Solutions Report estimates that West Marin requires 1,000 affordable homes – much more than the 481 sites planned for in County Housing Element.