The Marin County Board of Supervisors is weighing a package of $810,000 in grants to boost coastal affordable housing in West Marin. The proposals come from the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM) and would fund renovations in Point Reyes Station and Olema.
Money would come from Measure W and the county’s Affordable Housing Trust. If the board approves the funding, these two projects would add seven housing units aimed at ranch workers who face displacement as local ranches close or struggle to provide safe, stable homes.
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West Marin’s affordable housing push moves forward
The Board’s upcoming decision could shape housing options in towns from Point Reyes Station to Olema and beyond. This move could influence nearby communities like Bolinas and Inverness.
Measure W, approved by voters in 2018, imposes a 4% tax on short-term rentals to finance coastal housing. That money, along with county housing funds, sits at the center of CLAM’s requests.
Point Reyes Station property at 55/65 2nd Street
CLAM bought this site in July 2025. The property has a three-bedroom house, a two-bedroom house, and a junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU).
The association is asking for $300,000 from the county’s Affordable Housing Trust and $210,000 from Measure W to repair and rehabilitate the property for coastal housing needs. They plan to preserve two or three distinct rental units, hoping to stabilize housing for ranch workers in the Point Reyes area and nearby communities like Inverness and Tomales.
- The 3-bedroom house, the 2-bedroom house, and the JADU will get upgrades to meet safety and habitability standards.
- These improvements should position the site as a real, long-term rental option for ranch workers who are currently sharing crowded or substandard spaces.
- Funding comes from both Affordable Housing Trust dollars and Measure W proceeds.
Sacred Heart Parish property in Olema
On the Sacred Heart Parish site in Olema, CLAM seeks $300,000 to renovate four housing units. The parish property is leased to CLAM from the Archdiocese of San Francisco for nine years, which highlights a partnership tying local faith communities to West Marin’s housing needs.
This project complements the Point Reyes work by expanding coastal housing options closer to the Olema valley and the Olema School. It also connects to other West Marin amenities in towns like Marshall and Nicasio.
- The four units on the Sacred Heart property will be brought up to code and made ready for occupancy by ranch workers and their families.
- Like the Point Reyes project, the Olema renovations rely on a mix of public funding streams and a long-term lease with a trusted partner (the Archdiocese).
- Together with Point Reyes Station, this effort would contribute to a total of seven rehabilitated units across West Marin.
In West Marin’s broader economy, ranch operations remain central to communities spanning from Point Reyes Station to Olema, Stinson Beach, and beyond. Housing pressures have only intensified as land use changes and seasonal work patterns shift.
Why this matters for ranch workers and West Marin communities
County officials say that ranch-worker housing options are very limited and urgently needed. Current data show that 127 ranch workers across 37 households face displacement due to ranch closures or hazardous living conditions.
The proposed CLAM projects aim to halt this displacement by expanding safe, stable housing in key West Marin towns like Point Reyes Station and Olema. There are spillover benefits for adjacent communities such as Tomales, Point Reyes, and the surrounding ranch corridors near Nicasio and Sears Point.
What to watch at the Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting
At the upcoming meeting, the Board will consider awarding the $810,000 package to CLAM for these two West Marin projects. The vote will also reflect ongoing support for Measure W funding and the county’s Affordable Housing Trust as tools to help with housing pressures in rural Marin and its coastal towns.
Funding sources and how they fit into West Marin’s housing strategy
The Point Reyes and Olema proposals show how Marin County pulls from several revenue streams to boost coastal housing. The main funding sources are:
- Measure W brings in money from a 4% short-term rental tax, which goes straight to coastal affordable housing.
- Affordable Housing Trust funds help with repairs, rehab, and getting projects ready to launch.
- Local groups work together—like the Archdiocese and CLAM, which manages land with a focus on the community.
For people living in Point Reyes Station and Olema, the Board’s decision could really change things for the West Marin ranching lifestyle. Folks in Mill Valley, San Rafael, and all over Marin are keeping an eye on whether these seven units can actually set the pace for coastal housing that lasts.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin County supes to consider $810K in housing grants for Point Reyes ranch workers
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