Sanctioned Camping Program

The City is establishing a sanctioned camping area along the northern portion of the Mahon Creek Path through grant funding provided by the State of California Encampment Resolution Funding Program

Why the Camping Area has Been Established

Individuals experiencing homelessness have been camping in this area in recent years. When the City banned camping at Albert Park, members of that encampment relocated to the Mahon Creek Path Area, including a portion of Lindaro Street. In December of last year, the City then banned camping along Lindaro Street due to it being a school route, resulting in more individuals moving to the nearby Mahon Creek Path and along Andersen Drive.

The grant funding this program requires that the funds are used to provide alternative shelter in the general proximity of the existing unsanctioned Mahon Creek Path Area encampment. Given this, the City’s ability to establish the sanctioned camping site is constrained. Furthermore, the City does not own land elsewhere that is suitable for this type of program, and the City’s diligent year long search for a privately property alternative location for interim/transitional housing sites did not yield results. Lastly, service providers recommend that the City provide a site that individuals can walk to access services and food, and to provide a location that reduces disruption to those currently camping in the area.

Who Can Use the Sanctioned Camping Area?

The sanctioned camping area is open to individuals identified as residing in the Mahon Creek Area encampment prior to January 31, 2024 (the submission date of the ERF3 grant application). The sanctioned camping area has 47 tent sites for enrolled participants and be located on the northern portion of the Mahon Creek Path (between Francisco Blvd. West and Lincoln Ave.). City staff anticipate the sanctioned camping area will operate for approximately 12-18 months. The goal of the program is to support these individuals on their path to housing.

Participation in the sanctioned camping area is voluntary and individuals will be prioritized based on the following criteria (in rank order):

1. Plaintiffs in Boyd v. City of San Rafael
2. VI-SPDAT Score
3. Length of time residing in the Mahon Creek Path Area encampment
4. Previous participation in the City’s Service Support Area

In advance of this, the City provided notice to all Mahon Creek Path Area encampment residents regarding the new sanctioned camping program, including details on how to register to participate, the code of conduct required to participate, and the requirements for individuals on the northern portion of the path to work with the City to replace their tents and to adjust their location to an approved camping spot.

The City has also created a no-camping buffer along the southern portion of the Mahon Creek Path. This is a best practice and seeks to limit individuals from camping near the program to take advantage of its services and/or to engage in disruptive behavior that is counter to the mission of the program. Individuals who are camping in the buffer zone and who do not participate in the program will be permitted to camp elsewhere in the City subject to the Camping Ordinance.

Service Provided at the Sanctioned Camping Area

1. Housing Case Management and Outreach: Marin County Health and Human Services will contract with a housing case management provider to have three full-time housing case management staff and one full-time outreach worker dedicated to the Mahon Creek Path Area encampment through ERF3 funding. Participants enrolling in the sanctioned camping program may already be working with a housing case manager from a different agency and may still be eligible for a campsite based on their status as a Mahon Creek Path Area resident prior to January 31, 2024. Eligible participants choosing to enroll in the sanctioned camping program without a current housing case manager will be assigned to an ERF3 staff caseload.
2. Weekly Shower Service: the City and County of Marin will continue to partner with WeHope Mobile Homeless Services to provide weekly shower service to the sanctioned camping area.
3. SAFE Team: The San Rafael SAFE Team will be available with their services to the community including: emergency response for issues relating to mental health and addiction, as well as non-emergency response for people in need.
4. Code of Conduct: Participants will be required to sign and abide by a code of conduct. This code of conduct details the rules and expectations of participants.

Camping Guidelines and Regulations

Safety and Security

• Gates – The northern Mahon Path Area, will be gated on the Lincoln Avenue and Francisco Boulevard West entrances. Both gates will have an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian entrance, as well as emergency vehicle access.
• Fencing – Chain link fencing will surround the sanctioned camping location and will be increased to a height of 8 feet.
• Security Guards – 24/7 security personnel will be on-site to assist with resident safety, uphold the no-visitor policy of the camping location, notify emergency services as needed, and monitor the overall location. Two guards will be stationed at each entrance and a third will regularly walk throughout the camping area at certain times during the day.
• Fire Prevention – Fire extinguishers have been placed in outdoor cabinet locations throughout the sanctioned camping area. The San Rafael Fire Department will conduct fire safety inspections on a regular basis throughout the camping area.

Living and Meeting Spaces

• Campsites - The program has 50 total campsites, with tent size dimensions of 10’x10’ for each campsite.
• Temporary Office & Staff Storage Units – Two small office units have been placed on-site to be used by housing case managers and outreach staff. One temporary storage container unit will be placed to offer staff a location to store replacement equipment and necessary essentials.
• Meeting Space Canopy - A 20'x20' communal shade canopy has been set up to provide meeting spaces for residents, as well as on-site staff.

Sanitation

• Portable Restrooms with Handwashing Stations – Four standard restroom units and one ADA compliant unit will be provided for residents. One standard restroom and one ADA compliant unit will be reserved for security and on-site staff use.
• Garbage Pickup – Garbage dumpsters will be internally placed at the camping area gates, as well as trash bins throughout the site. Garbage pickup service will be provided regularly by Marin Sanitary Service. Additionally, participants will only be able to keep items inside their campsite areas and not add additional items to the exterior of their tents. On-site staff will work with residents on maintaining their immediate campsite.

Designated Areas

• Smoking Area - A designated smoking area has been provided to ensure smoking is safe and restricted to a managed location. Collection receptacles have been located in this area.
• Pet Use Area -  An area has been designated for pet use to accommodate residents with dogs. Appropriate bags and garbage facilities have been supplied and placed in this area.