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San Francisco, C.A. – May 29, 2024
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco (Habitat Greater San Francisco) and Canal Alliance, the long-standing San Rafael-based nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of Latino immigrants and their families, are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at creating more affordable homeownership opportunities for first-time, low-income families in Marin County. The collaboration seeks to address the urgent need for equitable housing solutions in Marin County and empower underserved communities in the region.
The partnership comes at a critical time as the area continues to grapple with housing disparities and affordability challenges. The median home price in Marin County has already exceeded $1.64 million this year, more than double the median home price in the rest of California. Latino families account for only 5% of the homes owned in Marin County, and in San Rafael where the majority of Latino families in Marin County live, housing expenses exceed the national average by 145%. The high cost of housing coupled with an extremely limited housing stock is displacing working families at an alarming rate. The majority of Marin’s workforce now live outside county lines.
In response to this pressing need, Habitat Greater San Francisco and Canal Alliance are leveraging their respective expertise to identify potential properties, secure funding, construct affordable homes and help local families set down roots that will last for generations.
“We can always accomplish more when we come together, and I am thrilled to partner with Canal Alliance, an organization I so deeply respect who has deep ties to the community and decades of experience helping working families find the resources they need to succeed.”
“We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to address the local housing crisis, whether it’s launching the largest affordable homeownership development in the state of California with our 80-home project in Novato, or our new collaboration with Canal Alliance. It is through affordable homeownership that we will break the cycle of generational poverty and instead start building generational wealth. We see again and again the benefits of homeownership, from better health and educational outcomes for parents and children, to stronger and safer communities. We are eager to get started and invite the community to join us on this journey and help make Marin County a place where everyone can flourish,” said Sedonaen.
Since its founding in 1982, Canal Alliance has been working tirelessly to advocate for immigrants in Marin County and provide them with the tools and resources they need to prosper. Over the years, housing insecurity, overcrowding, and displacement have become a growing concern in the region and prompted the nonprofit to pursue affordable homeownership opportunities more directly, including the purchase of twelve homes in San Rafael that the organization rents at affordable rates to local families.
For media enquiries please contact Jenny Hayes at JHayes@habitatgsf.org