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Happy New Year, fellow housing nerds and policy wonks!There is a lot to catch up on! The 2023 California legislative season ended in October with record-setting housing activity, November was for equal parts pats-on-the-back and wound-licking, and December was the time to rest and get ready to start the maddening but addictingly fun process all over…
Housing is #1 priority for Marin residents2023 was a very busy year for housing, and so for MEHC. The housing crisis in California continues to worsen; we have responded. We strengthened programs and introduced new strategies. We are working hard to build relationships throughout the County. Importantly, more and more Marin residents are understanding the need to act. A recent Marin…
Another important date in the housing element process is just around the corner. Jurisdictions that did not have their housing elements certified by May 31, 2023 must have all housing element rezonings completed by January 31st, 2024. Only Sausalito was certified by May 31, 2023, so they will have until January 2026 to complete their…
Marin County is more racially segregated than ever. Marin County is more racially segregated than ever, and we have a severe shortage of affordable housing [note]. Many Marinites consider these issues to be unrelated, but they are linked. Social justice is a component of MEHC’s mission, and so we strive to evaluate housing through a racial equity…
A Housing Coalition could help Marin become known for the right reasons, not the wrong ones…We have all heard by now that Marin has the oldest population and is one of the most segregated counties in California. These unflattering distinctions can be largely attributed to historical policies that blocked new homes and kept people of color from…
This month, MEHC board member Warren Wells offers MEHC’s Perspective on the outsized impact of policies which favor car culture, and the unintended consequences of parking requirements. Did you know that Marin has 4000 acres of parking? Read on… and send us your comments. Marin’s off-street parking requirements are driving up costs and increasing traffic. Here’s how. UN-PAVING PARADISEWhat if…
Every local government in the San Francisco Bay Area was required by law to update their Housing Element by January 31, 2023. The Housing Element requires each jurisdiction to plan for a state-determined number of housing units (called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation or the RHNA). HCD, a state level agency, must certify that the…
G R E E T I N G S ! In this Perspective, we offer a virtual tour of seventeen of Marin’s existing affordable housing complexes. The map linked here shows each development in its location. Our point: affordable housing is already here. It can be beautiful, and the residents are valued members of our community. Let us know if you enjoy…
What are Marin cities and towns, and the county, doing to prevent displacement? As housing costs in Marin continue to soar despite national trends, tenant protections have become a hot topic. Fairfax, Larkspur, and unincorporated Marin County have implemented or are discussing tenant protections. Though many of the Marin Housing Elements contain provisions promising to implement protections, these provisions remain controversial. Anti-displacement…
TO ADDRESS ITS HOUSING SHORTAGE, California implemented a Housing Element process over 50 years ago. The process requires each local city and county to adopt a Housing Element that must be updated and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) every 8 years (an 8-year “Housing Cycle”). So far, this program has failed…