Sanctioned Camping Area: March Update The Sanctioned Camping Area (SCA) program celebrated a milestone this month as its first participant successfully secured and moved into permanent housing! Another individual has received a housing voucher and is actively searching for an apartment. Outreach, Case Management, and FS Global staff continue to support other participants, ensuring they...
Homelessness & Housing Subcommittee Meeting On Thursday, February 13th, the City’s Homelessness & Housing Subcommittee met to receive key updates from staff. Michelle Funez and Emily Mann from Marin County Health & Human Services presented on the local launch of California’s CARE Court program. Marin County launched the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act...
Community Concerns Regarding the City's Camping Ordinance The City is aware of growing concerns and misinformation being spread on social media and shared with the City directly regarding Camping Ordinance regulations related to City Parks. The Ordinance prohibits camping within 100 feet of playgrounds and prohibits camping at certain public properties including, but not...
Camping Ordinance Enforcement Approach The City has established a regular approach to noticing and enforcement under the City’s camping ordinance. Enforcement activities of the Camping Ordinance relating to violations of the campsite size maximums, setback requirements, and/or unpermitted structures and building materials will take place each week on the days outlined in the diagram below. The City may require...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 15, 2024 Encampment Compliance Initiative Following Ordinance Amendments and Opening of the Sanctioned Camping Area San Rafael, CA — In a continued effort to address homelessness and enhance public safety, the City launched a comprehensive encampment compliance initiative during the week of October 7, 2024. This initiative followed the recent opening...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2024 City of San Rafael Announces an October 3rd Community Webinar to learn more about the City’s homelessness response and to Launch Communications Campaign Highlighting Efforts to Address Homelessness San Rafael, CA — On August 19, 2024, the City of San Rafael provided a comprehensive update to the City Council...
Join us on October 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for a virtual webinar to learn more about the City’s partnership with Marin County on the Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF-3) grant to address the Mahon Creek Path area encampment. During this webinar City and County staff will provide additional details on the ERF-3 grant and the...
Structure Enforcement and Debris Removal On Tuesday, September 2nd, the City’s debris removal contractor dismantled a structure on Andersen Drive, following an order issued as a result of an administrative hearing with the City's hearing officer. There were three noticed sites brought into compliance voluntarily by the individuals residing there. The photos below show the...
August 19, 2024 - Comprehensive Homelessness Update to City Council The City Council received a comprehensive update on homelessness during its meeting on Monday night, August 19, 2024. The report included amendments to the City’s ordinance regulating camping on public property, and the City Council passed a resolution appropriating and authorizing grant funding to establish...
The City of San Rafael is sharing this informative piece from KQED News. Please note that this article was originally published by KQED. All credit for the content, including any accompanying media, belongs to the author Vanessa Rancano and KQED and can be viewed on the KQED Webpage. San Rafael to Set Up Fenced, Sanctioned...
Media Contact: John Stefanski, Assistant City Manager PIO@cityofsanrafael.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2024 FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES LAWSUIT LIMITING CITY REGULATION OF CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. – After nearly one year of litigation, on August 7, 2024, United States District Judge, Edward Chen, granted the City’s motion to...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2024 City of San Rafael Responds to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on Homeless Encampments San Rafael, Calif – The City of San Rafael welcomes Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent Executive Order directing state agencies to urgently address homelessness while respecting the dignity and safety of those affected....
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2024 Statement on Grants Pass Decision Today, the United States Supreme Court published its decision on the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. The ruling overturns the Ninth Circuit ruling that limited the City’s ability to regulate camping on public property like sidewalks, rights of way, and parks. The City...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2024 Federal Judge Limits City from Enforcing Fire Code for Francisco Blvd. West Illegal Structures San Rafael, Calif. – On Friday, June 14, Judge Edward Chen of the United States District Court, Northern District limited the City’s planned enforcement of its Fire Code regarding illegal structures along Francisco Blvd....
San Rafael among cities featured by CBS in preview of Supreme Court decision CBS Sunday Morning interviewed San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin who spoke about the impacts of U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming Grants Pass vs. Johnson decision. The video, which was broadcast nationally on June 2, can be seen here. On April 22, the Supreme...
FAQ on Request for Proposals (RFP) Operational Services and Support in Sanctioned Camping / Safe Sleeping Programs, and Interim Housing Programs RFP Released May 20, 2024; Proposals Due June 12, 2024 at 5 p.m. General Questions about the RFP What is the ideal reporting relationship of the partners for the sanctioned camp? The City’s Homelessness...
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: RFP Released May 20, 2024; Proposals Due June 12, 2024 at 5 p.m. Seeking Proposals to provide the following Operational Services and Support in Sanctioned Camping / Safe Sleeping Programs, and Interim Housing Programs: Property and Program Management, including operations and security oversight 24/7/365 Security Contractors, trained in...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2024 City of San Rafael to Host Seeds of Hope Luncheon with Non-Profit Partners San Rafael, Calif – The City of San Rafael is hosting a Seeds of Hope Luncheon on Monday, May 20th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the San Rafael Community Center at Albert Park,...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2024 Marin County and City of San Rafael Awarded Nearly $6 Million to Address Mahon Creek Path Encampment San Rafael, CA –Marin County and the City of San Rafael have been awarded nearly $6 million by the California Interagency Council on...
Survey Continues to Inform Program Direction The December 2023 survey of individuals experiencing homelessness conducted by the City of San Rafael and its partner agencies has continued to guide the City’s response to homelessness, as reported in the Marin Independent Journal. Since the survey, the City, service agencies, and County of Marin have planned an...
The results of the needs assessment survey conducted in San Rafael's largest encampments are now available online for public access. In December 2023, the City partnered with local service providers to carry out this important survey, aiming to better understand the needs and experiences of individuals facing homelessness in our community. The survey teams gathered...
City Surveys Individuals in Encampments In December 2023, the City partnered with local service providers to conduct a needs assessment survey in San Rafael’s largest encampments. The survey teams compiled 60 responses, representing more than 80% of the individuals in the Mahon Creek area encampment. The results documented the important fact that people experiencing homelessness...
Camping Ordinance Update The City of San Rafael continues to work under a Federal District Court order on the implementation of its camping ordinance passed in July 2023. On October 19th , the Court issued a preliminary injunction order that provided modified spacing rules allowing up to four individuals to camp together, in a 400...
Human-Centered Approach The City is preparing to implement the City’s new camping ordinance adopted on July 17, 2023, with court-mandated conditions. Staff are collaborating with service providers and members of the unhoused community (Marin County Lived Experience Advisory Board) to facilitate a human-centered, trauma informed approach, which will focus on voluntary compliance and incentives/assistance first,...
Successful Seeds of Hope Event On November 6, the City of San Rafael and County of Marin Health and Human Services co-hosted the 6th Seeds of Hope lunch and service provider fair. The event invites people experiencing homelessness to receive meals, donations, and housing-focused services. The turnout was wonderful, and 23 service providers assisted attendees...
City Camping Ordinance Update On July 17th, City Council adopted Ordinance 2030 to address unregulated encampments on public property by persons experiencing homelessness in the City. The ordinance would prohibit establishing any camping area within 200 ft. of another camping area. Each camping area would also be limited in size to 10 ft. by 10...
Extension of Administrative Order: Falkirk/Menzies camping prohibition (Temporary) The City Manager of the City of San Rafael has extended the Administrative Order temporarily prohibiting camping in or on non-Open Space portions of the Falkirk Cultural Center and Menzies Parking Lot, in the City of San Rafael. The effective date of the Order has been continued...