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Larkspur’s Project Homekey Receives State Funds

“This program will address a critical need for safe, stable, permanent housing in Marin, and it’s a wonderful addition to the work that we have been doing together to address homelessness and create a place for people to belong to the community,” said Mary Kay Sweeney, the Executive Director of Homeward Bound of Marin. “We are delighted that it was awarded and look forward to seeing residents move in.”

Published

4 years ago

February 22, 2022

Oakland Post

The property at 1251 South Eliseo Drive in Larkspur is a long-closed skilled nursing facility.

More than $15 million to go toward housing for vulnerable residents

Courtesy of Marin County

The County of Marin has been awarded $15,497,200 in State of California funding to support the creation of 43-50 permanent supportive homes for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The funds will support the acquisition, rehabilitation, and operation of a former skilled nursing facility at 1251 South Eliseo Drive in Larkspur.

The site will be owned and operated by Episcopal Community Services (ECS), in partnership with the County of Marin. The property represents an opportunity to revitalize an underutilized parcel and serve vulnerable Marin residents experiencing homelessness through evidence-based interventions.

A hearing of the Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, Feb. 15, to formally accept the grant and confirm the County’s commitment of match funding.

“A project like this is an incredible opportunity to bring the most vulnerable into housing and provide the services they need to regain their health and well-being,” said Marin County Supervisor Katie Rice, whose district includes the City of Larkspur and surrounding unincorporated communities of Kentfield and Greenbrae. “Working with our partners and the community as we move forward, I am confident that 1251 South Eliseo will be a successful project for all concerned.”

In 2020, the State of California launched an innovative new housing program called Project Homekey to protect Californians experiencing homelessness who are at high risk for serious illness and are impacted by COVID-19. To date, Homekey has resulted in 6,029 new units of permanent housing statewide and has housed over 8,200 people. In Marin, the County received approximately $9.2 million in 2020 to aid the purchase of 62 new units of supportive housing in San Rafael and Corte Madera.

In early 2021, the State announced a second round of Homekey funding, through which a total of $1.4 billion would be made available to support Homekey projects throughout the state. In November, the County of Marin submitted the proposal for the South Eliseo site. On Feb. 9, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) informed the County that the site was selected for funding. As funds are being awarded on a rolling basis, HCD has not yet closed the competition or announced the complete list of awarded projects.

The facility at 1251 South Eliseo will be operated by ECS as a 43-50-unit building for single adults experiencing chronic homelessness.

Permanent supportive housing, an evidence-based housing intervention that combines affordable housing solutions with wraparound support services, is a proven solution to chronic homelessness. These support services, including case management and mental health, educational, and vocational services, help residents achieve housing stability and improve health outcomes.

“We are proud to partner with the County to provide a meaningful housing opportunity for those burdened by homelessness in Marin,” said Beth Stokes, Executive Director of ECS. “We look forward to welcoming new residents to the site and working with the community to make this project successful.”

In July 2021, the County of Marin selected ECS to be its development sponsor for the Project Homekey 2.0 initiative. ECS has provided essential services to homeless San Franciscans since 1983, utilizing a holistic approach that addresses the complex causes leading to homelessness. Last year, they served more than 13,000 people, guided by their mission to help homeless and very low-income people every day and every night obtain the housing, jobs, shelter, and essential services each person needs to prevent and end homelessness.

Today it is responsible for operating over 1,700 housing units, with over 98% of its residents retaining housing year over year. A cornerstone of ECS’ success has been its ability to establish authentic relationships in the communities it serves.

Since selecting the South Eliseo site, the County and ECS have conducted community outreach to neighbors and other community stakeholders. This includes three community meetings, a school-focused meeting, and several meetings with other stakeholders, including Kentfield School District, Safe Routes to Schools, Tam Union High School District, Marin Catholic High School, College of Marin, MarinHealth, Central Marin Police Authority, County of Marin Sheriff, Marin Community Clinics, the California Highway Patrol, Kentfield Fire, and Central Marin Fire.

A Community Advisory Group has recently been formed, which includes seven residents from the immediate neighborhood; two representatives from the Larkspur City Council (Scot Candell and Catherine Way); Supervisor Katie Rice; County staff; ECS staff; representatives from Kentfield School District Board of Trustees, Safe Routes to Schools, and the Central Marin Police Authority. At least one individual with lived experience of homelessness will be added.

Learn more on the County of Marin website about the property or Project Homekey or email Marin HHS staff. 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 regular project updates.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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4 days ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

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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

2 weeks 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.