This Bay Area County Is Aiming To Provide More Direct Services In An Underserved Community

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The West Marin Connect Partnership will launch its first event on Sunday at Point Reyes Station, offering vital information on employment, housing and social services to the West Marin community.

"We are listening to the voices of our West Marin community, and West Marin Connect is one way we are responding,” said Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, who represents the coastal region on the Board of Supervisors “This is not a one-time effort. We will continue to bring more services, more resources and more opportunities to West Marin so that every resident can access the support they need."

From 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, at the Dance Palace located at 503 B Street in downtown Point Reyes Station, participating agencies will conduct 45-minute workshops that will cover a range of services and resources:

• 1 p.m. - Job Search Readiness, provided by the staff of CareerPoint Marin
• 1:45 p.m. - The West Marin Fund and the Marin Small Business Development Center are collaborating to offer the Microenterprise Support Program "Emprende West Marin."
• 2:30 p.m. - Provided by staff from the Marin County Community Development Agency and the West Marin Fund, "Be Part of the Solution: Learn How You Can Create New Housing and Shelter."

“We recognize that there is an urgent need for additional services in the coastal communities that encompass West Marin, and these partners are ready to help,” said Summer Cassel, the County’s West Marin Municipal Services Manager. “We hope that anyone living or working in these communities will come and explore the opportunities available to them.”

Cassel said the partnership aims to connect residents with vital resources, especially those facing major life changes like displacement or job loss.

In March, Supervisors declared an emergency shelter crisis in unincorporated Marin. Over 150 extremely low-income residents are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. Fourteen ranches in Point Reyes National Seashore are closing due to a settlement, displacing families from housing, some of which is substandard.

Households must vacate by early 2026.