Hosted quarterly at the San Rafael Community Center, the Seeds of Hope Luncheon brings together individuals, local businesses, and service organizations committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness in San Rafael. The event series has been praised and admired not only by our local partners, but also by partners across the Bay Area. Each luncheon serves hundreds of community members and is an event for local resident volunteers to build meaningful connections with both service providers and fellow neighbors.
The Marin Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) has launched a Coordinated Entry System (CES) to ensure that people experiencing homelessness receive the best services to meet their housing and/or service needs. CES functions as a single front door to many different programs, whereby participants are identified, assessed for, and connected to available housing and homeless services that provide the resources best fit for their situation. This way, support is fair, coordinated, and focused on giving everyone the strongest chance at stability.
The Marin County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Access Team serves as the central point of entry for mental health and substance use care in Marin. Much like a trusted guide at an information desk, the Access Team listens, conducts an initial screening, and directs individuals to the most appropriate services and supports. Whether someone needs counseling, treatment, or recovery resources, the Access Team ensures residents are connected to the right level of care without having to navigate the system on their own.
The SAFE Team consists of an Emergency Medical Technician and a Crisis Intervention Specialist. Services provided by SAFE include responding to people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, in need of treatment for mental illness, or who need shelter by providing counseling and transportation to the appropriately staffed location.
In Marin since 1946, St. Vincent’s does much more than just provide 200,000 warm meals every year at its Free Dining Room on B Street. St. Vincent’s also provides homelessness prevention services to over 1,000 households a year, offers direct assistance through its Housing Help Desk, manages the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to address chronic homelessness, and hosts Community Court – a court diversion program to reduce the jail rate.
In addition to being Marin’s primary emergency shelter provider, Homeward Bound also operates 353 units of supportive housing units, provides medical respite care saving the community $2.5M a year in medical costs, and provides job training opportunities through its Fresh Starts Culinary Academy and Wagster social enterprise.
The Ritter Center is Marin’s primary healthcare provider for people experiencing homelessness. Serving approximately 1,500 unhoused people at their clinic in Downtown San Rafael, Ritter specializes in providing wraparound medical, psychiatric, case management, and behavior health support to Marin’s most vulnerable.
Adopt A Family of Marin works to prevent homelessness and provide long-term stability for Marin families in need. They provide financial assistance for rent, security deposits, utility payments, food vouchers and auto repair. By partnering closely with each family, the program offers a supportive safety net that empowers them to regain stability and thrive as part of the Marin community.
The Community Alternative Response & Engagement (CARE) homeless outreach teams offer vital wellness support and assistance to unhoused people throughout Marin County. Trained to respond to mental health crises and situations involving intoxication, Peer Outreach Specialists – many of whom themselves have lived experience with homelessness - bring both credibility and compassion as they help people take the first steps toward safety and long-term stability.