Monday, April 27, 2009
The economic downturn has struck even some of the wealthiest counties in the United States. Marin County, which has the highest median household income in the state of California ($83,870), has experienced a tremendous increase in homelessness. According to the Marin County civil grand jury, Marin’s homeless population has risen to 1,770 homeless and 3,028 “precariously housed,” close to becoming homeless. Marin County’s rising homeless count is attributed to the unemployment rate, which jumped to 7.4 percent in March, up from 4.1 percent a year earlier, and the 231 percent increase in home foreclosures from 2007 to 2008.
In response to the unprecedented rise in homelessness, the Marin County civil grand jury has requested a permanent winter homeless shelter and a homeless coordinator. In the current fiscal year, Marin’s Department of Health and Human Services will distribute about $13.6 million to services related to homelessness. For example, Marin has created the Homeless Medical Respite Project, which is a transitional safety net that provides homeless patients released from Marin County hospitals with an independent living facility for them to recuperate in until they can become independent.
-Eve Myers
Medical Respite for Homeless (by Kevin Fagan, San Francisco Chronicle)
Marin Grand Jury Calls for New Winter Shelter, Homeless Coordinator (by Richard Halstead, Contra Costa Times)
Ranks of Homeless Swell as Middle Class Teeters (by Kevin Fagan, San Francisco Chronicle)
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