Need Rental Assistance? Community Action Marin can help low-income Marin County residents and landlords apply to receive rental assistance for back rent due between April 1, 2020 through today. Application assistance is available on Tuesdays from 10am-2pm at Community Action Marin, 555 Northgate Drive, Ste. 201. To be eligible for the program, households must be […]
Season of Sharing
Community Action Marin helps individuals and families apply for Housing Assistance through the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund. The Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund operates year-round and works with Bay Area households who have exhausted other resources and support from family, friends, and organizations, and are striving to overcome an unexpected financial challenge or crisis. The Season of Sharing Fund provides short-term, one-time assistance with:
- Rent, whether it’s first months rent or back rent to prevent eviction
- Mortgage Payments, including current payment or those that are past due
- Security Deposits
The maximum amount of assistance provided is $3,000 and assistance can be coupled with other resources, including what the applicant can pay, in order to cover the full cost of a housing expense. Payments are made in the form of a grant directly to the supplier of services, such as the landlord.
When applying for the Season of Sharing Fund, applicants must:
- Have their eligibility status validated by supporting documentation
- Provide proof that they will have the means to cover their housing and living expenses in the months following receiving assistance,
The goal of the Housing Assistance Program is to resolve the immediate crisis and help the individual or family regain long-term self sufficiency. See below for eligibility requirements and required documentation and click here to submit a service inquiry form and get started. You can also email [email protected] with questions.
The Season of Sharing Fund provides one-time, non-recurring financial assistance to individuals and families who have emergency needs that cannot be met through other resources. Eligible recipients include:
- Low-to-moderate income families with dependent children 18 years of age and under
- Seniors who are age 55 and older
- Disabled individuals
- Veteran.
- Pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester
- Victims of domestic violence
- Coming from a shelter: one year since disruption of household
- Self-referral: six months since disruption of household
- Emancipated foster youth between 18 and 24 (housing assistance only).
You can satisfy the photo id requirement using one (1) of the following:
- Current Driver’s License with photograph (from the U.S. or any of its territories)
- Non-Driver’s Identification Card with photograph (from the U.S. or any of its territories)
- Passport
- Identification from County of Origin with photograph (non-U.S.)
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (good for 10 years after date of issue
- Learner Permit with photograph (from the U.S. or any of its territories)
- Work Identification with photograph
You can satisfy the income documentation requirement using one (1) of the following:
- Pay stub(s) (minimum 30 days)
- Unemployment award letter
- W-2
- Bank statement (reflecting salary or reduction in salary)
- Letter from employer (reflecting income level, decrease in income level or layoff);
- Form 1040 as filed with IRS
- Benefits award letter (social security, VA, etc.)
- Self-declaration statement (can be used if self-employed or if other documents cannot be produced)
You can satisfy the proof of tenancy requirement using one (1) of the following:
- First page of current lease
- Utility bill showing address
- Notice of past due rent
- Eviction notice
- Self-declaration (if other documents cannot be produced)
Qualify for Medi-Cal?
Community Action Marin is proud to be a Community Supports provider and is here to help those eligible for Medi-Cal receive one-time assistance with Housing Deposits and Housing Navigation.
Housing Deposits
Get assistance with finding, securing, and funding basic housing. This can include:
- Security deposits and/or first and last month’s rent required to lease an apartment or home
- Set up fees, deposits, and/or first month coverage for utilities such as phone, gas, electricity, heating, and water
- External services, like a one-time cleaning or pest eradication or related supplies, that are necessary for an individual or family’s health and safety
- Household appliances such as an air conditioner or heater, or other medically-necessary health equipment like hospital beds, hoyer lifts, or air filters that are necessary to ensure an individual’s access and safety in the home
- Those who are experiencing homelessness or are precariously housed
- Experiencing health, disability or behavioral health conditions including Housing First, Harm Reduction, Progressive Engagement, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care
If you are interested in learning more about housing justice and all of Community Action Marin’s advocacy efforts, click here.
Housing Navigation
Provides help with obtaining housing including:
- Conducting a tenant screening and housing assessment to identify preferences and barriers to tenancy
- Developing a housing support plan with short- and long-term goals, and what is required to meet them
- Looking for housing and presenting options
- Assisting with completing housing applications and required documentation to secure housing
- Aiding in benefit advocacy, including help with obtaining identification and documentation for SSI eligibility and the application process
- Identifying and securing resources to help with subsidized rent or to cover expenses such as security deposit, moving costs, and other one-time expenses
- Helping with requests for reasonable accommodation
- Educating and engaging with landlords
- Ensuring the living environment is safe and ready for move in
- Arranging for and supporting details of the move
- Creating a housing support crisis plan that includes early intervention services when housing is jeopardized
- Coordinating, securing, or funding non-emergency, non-medical transportation to assist with mobility and access to housing options and/or accommodations for accessibility
- Experiencing homelessness or precariously housed
- Possess significant barriers to housing stability and have one or more chronic conditions;
- a serious mental illness
- are at risk of institutionalization or overdose
- require residential services because of substance abuse or a serious emotional disturbance
- are receiving Enhanced Care Management
- are a transition age youth with one or more convictions, a history of foster care, involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system, have a serious mental illness, and/or a child with serious emotional disturbances who have been victims of trafficking or domestic violence.
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate
- Prior Rental History
Other Housing Options
- Information on shared housing, Section 8 housing & senior subsidized housing options through our Financial Coaching program, and
- Small one-time cash grants to support emergency rental, mortgage, or security deposit assistance through our Emergency Family Needs Program For more information, call: 415.526.7541 or email Emergency Family Needs at [email protected].
Need Housing Assistance? If you have questions or wish to access services, call 415.526.7500 or click on the button below.