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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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OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

1 week ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

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2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.