Housing chronically homeless is humane, cost-effective

The solution to homelessness is a home. It’s simple, but it’s not easy.

The County of Marin is faced with a unique set of situations and challenges to support unhoused residents. The COVID-19 pandemic added another element into the equation.

The fundamental challenge Marin faces is a lack of permanent supportive housing. Project Homekey is a state program providing funds to local jurisdictions to purchase buildings for housing homeless residents.

The county and local jurisdictions, through Project Homekey, have an opportunity to secure housing, address the community impacts and provide care for the most vulnerable.

Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, instructs agencies to allow people who are living unsheltered or in encampments to remain where they are.

The landmark Martin v. Boise case found it unconstitutional to impose criminal penalties on people experiencing homelessness for sitting, sleeping or lying outside on public property if there is insufficient shelter capacity, ruling sleep is a basic human right.

No two encampments are alike. In San Rafael we see encampments under the viaduct and along the freeway; there are recreational vehicles and campers on Novato’s Binford Road; Sausalito’s Dunphy Park holds anchor-out mariners.

Each encampment presents its own unique set of circumstances and we are actively engaged with the affected jurisdictions on solutions.

Nearly three-quarters of people experiencing homelessness in Marin were housed in Marin before becoming homeless. They are our neighbors.

Every two years Marin conducts a point-in-time count to understand how many people are experiencing homelessness. The last count, in 2019, revealed that Marin’s 1,034 homeless population can be found, 17% in emergency shelters, 15% in transitional housing, 25% in vehicles, 15% in tents, 12% on boats, 12% on the street and 4% in abandoned buildings.

We have different populations and needs. People who are recently homeless generally need fewer resources to get keys to a home.

People facing chronic homelessness are often the most vulnerable and require more support. They may be living with a disability, have complex health conditions, or behavioral challenges that make it more difficult to have and hold stable housing.

We know our strategies are successful. “Coordinated entry” and “housing first” are the cornerstones of that success. We have provided permanent supportive housing to more than 320 people in the past 3.5 years with a 94% retention rate. We have housed people 46% faster during the pandemic.

From 2017 to 2019, 80% of counties in California saw increases in homelessness. During that time, Marin was among the few who saw a decrease, with a 7% overall decrease and 28% decrease in chronic homelessness.

Housing the chronically homeless is not only the humane approach, it is more costeffective. The sticker shock that comes with purchasing a building is undeniable, but so are the steep costs of emergency services like jails, hospitals and shelters.

It is estimated that we save $40,000 per year in Marin every time we house a chronically homeless person.

In January, the Board of Supervisors approved the creation of a 16-bed adult transitional residential treatment program at 920 Grand Ave. in San Rafael for individuals with serious mental illness and cooccurring substance use disorders — the first of its kind in Marin.

Project Homekey provided funds for Marin to purchase America’s Best Value Inn in Corte Madera and an office building in San Rafael in November 2020, which creates 60 new apartment units for homeless people.

We built strong partnerships throughout the continuum of care to provide housing, support and a pathway to recovery. Homekey addresses a need and offers an opportunity, a home and a permanent solution. Additional Homekey funds will be made available through the state.

Civic leaders should look to partner, support service funds and work with communities on a suitable location. The solution to homelessness is a home. It’s simple, but it’s not easy.