FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, July 15, 2024
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REVIEW OF TEMPORARY HOUSING PROGRAM CITES IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSEL REMOVAL, PARTICIPANT HOUSING AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ON RICHARDSON BAY

One-year overview of Richardson Bay Regional Agency’s housing initiative credits successes, and provides helpful recommendations Sausalito, CA

A review of the Richardson Bay Regional Agency’s (RBRA) Temporary Supportive Housing Program noted the success of the initiative’s aim to find secure housing for program participants, and remove illegally anchored vessels from the water, while increasing space and recreation opportunities on Richardson Bay.
The report, a one-year review of the program, was presented at the RBRA’s Board of Directors meeting on Thursday.

“We can see from this report that the objectives of the Temporary Supportive Housing Program are being met,” said RBRA Board Chair Jim Lynch. “The Program is securing housing for individuals, enabling RBRA to remove vessels off the anchorage, and making Richardson Bay more safe and secure for everyone to enjoy. As with any important initiative, there remains room for improvement, and this report offers a useful set of recommendations for the RBRA as we move forward.”

With the help of $3 million in state funds secured by State Senator Mike McGuire, the RBRA was able to establish its housing voucher program last year, allowing boaters previously living on the water to move into safe, secure housing on land. The RBRA manages the program in collaboration with the Marin Housing Authority, Marin Health and Human Services, and Episcopal Community Services.

Since the program was launched, 14 individuals living on the water have been housed. Six more are anticipated to be housed over the next few months. Additionally, three individuals have
transitioned from the RBRA’s temporary supportive housing voucher to permanent federal funding support.
The report noted that:

•  The vessels of all persons housed in the program have been removed from the anchorage.
•  There has been a sufficient number of housing units for eligible participants.
•  Interest among eligible participants in the program continues to rise.
•  There has been no confidentiality breaches.
•  An informal observation has noted an increase in recreational vessels on Richardson Bay,    with those       visitors reporting a sense of enhanced safety.

The report also notes that the program managers have helped increased trust in the community, have followed through with their goals and intentions, and have displayed transparency and honesty in the process, among other strengths.

The report noted challenges inherent with the program, including questions about eligibility, communications and logistical difficulties, maintaining case management relationships and communicating with stakeholders about future permanent funding support for housing. The report lists recommendations to improve processes for housing vouchers, connectivity, vessel removal, information and eligibility. The full report can be found here:

“We are proud of everything we have achieved in the first year of our housing program,” said RBRA Executive Director Brad Gross. “We set out to pursue this initiative with trust, honesty and transparency, and this report shows that we’ve maintained those values. I believe we are on the right track.”

In 2021, the Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) entered into an Agreement with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), stipulating that all vessels and floating homes be removed from the anchorage by October 26, 2026, except those abiding by 72-hour time restrictions.

The Agreement with BCDC was driven in large part by the need to protect the eelgrass ecosystem of Richardson Bay. Eelgrass is a critical component of a healthy and vibrant Richardson Bay. It supports herring runs, reduces erosion, sequesters carbon and is a crucial ecological resource for harbor porpoises and sea lions. In addition, tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds rely on the eelgrass of Richardson Bay for feeding and resting during migration along the Pacific Flyway.
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The Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) is a local government agency serving Belvedere, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and unincorporated Southern Marin County. RBRA is dedicated to maintaining and improving the navigational waterways, open waters, and shoreline of Richardson Bay.