COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN’S MISSION: We make it possible for people in Marin to achieve well-being by providing the education, mental health, and vital services they need. Together, we break down the barriers that get in the way of fair and lasting change in service to better outcomes for all.

Many people consider Marin County to be one of the most beautiful places to live in the United States. It has some of the highest incomes per capita and one of the lowest unemployment rates. It also has the widest gap between rich and poor and one of the greatest racial inequities in the State of California. In this county of plenty, the face of poverty is often invisible.  The numbers are not.

The cost of living in Marin has risen 48% in just the past four years, and families are struggling to make ends meet. Right now, a family of four with two adults, one infant, and one preschooler would need to earn $149,545 annually, an amount 82% greater than the federal poverty level  of $26,500, to cover all of the family’s basic expenses, such as housing, food, child care, health care, transportation, and taxes without public or private assistance. 

At Community Action Marin, we cover unexpected financial emergencies so people can keep a roof over their heads and the lights on at home. We make sure kids can do well in school by making early childhood education and care affordable for everyone. We try to remove the stigma of mental health, and get people and their loved ones through times of crisis. We help people take charge of their money and grow their income so they can have a more secure future, creating a pathway from crisis to thriving.