Activism

Board to Review Project Homekey Site Agreements

Addressing homelessness has been an urgent priority for the Supervisors, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), other local governments and partnering agencies. The Larkspur property represents an opportunity to revitalize an underutilized parcel and serve vulnerable Marin residents experiencing homelessness through evidence-based interventions.

Published

4 years ago

May 14, 2022

Oakland Post

The Project Homekey facility in Larkspur will be owned and operated by Episcopal Community Services in partnership with the County of Marin.

Anticipated 2023 opening of Larkspur property to address homelessness

Courtesy of Marin County

In February, the County of Marin was awarded $15,497,200 in Project Homekey funding to support the creation of 43 permanent supportive homes for people experiencing chronic homelessness. On May 10, the Board of Supervisors approved three agreements governing the use of the grant funds and operations for the site at 1251 South Eliseo Drive in Larkspur.

The funds will support the acquisition, rehabilitation, and operation of a former skilled nursing facility. It will be owned and operated by Episcopal Community Services (ECS) in partnership with the County of Marin.

“Episcopal Community Services is a welcome addition to our coordinated system of care here in Marin County,” said Gary Naja-Riese, Director of Homelessness and Whole Person Care for Marin HHS. “I look forward to the deep history they bring in supportive housing and direct work with unhoused individuals. This partnership with the County will create a place to call home and ensure needed services for 43 disabled Marin residents experiencing homelessness.”

The agreements include:

details about the County’s contribution to the costs of construction and renovation;
conditions and requirements on the property deed, such as tenant protections, rent limits, and a requirement that the building be used to provide permanent supportive housing for 43 low-income individuals;
preliminary operational requirements for ECS operations at the site. This initial draft is based upon activities and outcomes from the original Homekey application and will include some of the basic expectations for site operation and compliance with HHS Division of Homelessness & Whole Person Care operations standards. Closer to the opening date, the County and ECS will amend the Operating Agreement to include a more detailed Scope of Work with information about additional clinical support for clients and the Community Services Safety team.

Since the funding was awarded, the County and ECS have made considerable progress in assembling and convening the Community Advisory Group (CAG). The CAG is tasked with communicating the views, concerns, suggestions, and voices of a broad spectrum of community stakeholders to the County and ECS as the project moves forward. The feedback will help provide input on program design, public safety, and community relations, which will be critical to the success of the project.

“The CAG is up and running and includes residents and neighbors from Kentfield, Greenbrae, and Larkspur,” said Supervisor Katie Rice, the Board President who represents constituents near the South Eliseo location. “I look forward to supporting their work with the project team to address issues of concern raised by community members, and toward ensuring South Eliseo a success for all involved.”

Eighteen CAG members have been appointed, including at-large community members, representatives from the Kentfield School District, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Marin Police Authority, the City of Larkspur, and Marin County Parks. At least one individual with lived experience of homelessness will be added. The members of the CAG have formed three subcommittees — Communications, Program Design and Public Safety — each of which will meet monthly and be attended by CAG members as well as County and ECS representatives

Additional information about the project, including a list of frequently asked questions, can be found at www.1251seliseo.com. The site also allows anyone interested to sign up for the recently launched project newsletter and submit comments or questions.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Marin Fair Competitive Exhibits Open for Entry

Don't Miss

IN MEMORIAM: Tribute to the Late Rev. Dr. Gillette O. James, Emeritus

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

1 week ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.