In Marin County, Homeward Bound—a long-running nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness—just bought the former convent at 77 Locust Ave. in San Rafael from the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. Their goal? Turn it into senior housing.
The plan weaves together a beloved local site and a real regional need: permanent homes for seniors, all while keeping the gardens and green space that have shaped the neighborhood for decades.
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A New Senior Housing Project in San Rafael
Right in the heart of San Rafael, the Locust Avenue property has been part of the Dominican Sisters’ campus since 1903. It’s seen a lot, including serving as an influenza infirmary back in the 1920s.
Homeward Bound plans to keep the property’s footprint while converting the buildings into 28 residences. Most will be one-bedroom units, with a handful of studios, all intended to help Marin seniors move out of homelessness.
This project aims to address Marin’s affordability crisis by offering stable, long-term housing instead of just temporary shelter.
Background of the Locust Avenue Site
The sisters sold the property at a much lower price than the market would demand, supporting their mission of care. Homeward Bound wants to keep turning underused spaces into permanent homes for vulnerable neighbors.
In San Rafael, this kind of partnership feels familiar. Marin’s seen other successes like this—helping people while keeping the local character intact.
Funding, Timeline, and Impact
To make it all happen, Homeward Bound’s launched a $15 million fundraising campaign. Construction will stay within the existing footprint.
Organizers are hoping to start in 2028 and open in 2029, but that depends on how fundraising goes. It’s a long road, but public funding and philanthropy in Marin County can be unpredictable.
Public Funding and Partnerships
- There’s reason to feel optimistic: a 2019 senior housing program in Larkspur and a fully occupied 24-unit veterans building in Novato finished in 2024.
- The Novato project got a $3 million state grant and a city lease amendment, which saved Homeward Bound nearly $18,000 a month in interest.
- Public funding and partnerships play a huge role in making permanent housing possible, not just temporary shelter. That’s become a core strategy as Marin tries to reduce chronic homelessness.
Why This Matters for Marin County’s Seniors
Today, Marin’s shelter population includes more and more seniors. Residents 62 and older now make up about 25% of Homeward Bound’s clients—up from the mid-teens just a few years ago.
Those 55 and older account for about 40%. Marin’s high housing costs often force seniors to choose between unsafe living situations or leaving the county for somewhere cheaper.
By creating permanent homes in places like San Rafael, Larkspur, and Novato, this project goes right at the heart of veteran and senior homelessness: the lack of affordable, stable housing for older residents.
Local Impact Across Marin County
- San Rafael gets a permanent housing option that keeps the neighborhood’s character and green spaces intact.
- Nearby towns—think Mill Valley and Sausalito—could see some benefits too, like better service access and safer streets.
- The project fits into a regional approach: blending housing, health, and social services to help seniors before homelessness gets worse.
- Ongoing teamwork with faith-based and community partners helps keep affordable housing viable in towns from Novato to Fairfax.
What’s Next for Residents and the Community
The Locust Avenue project means more than just shelter—it’s real, permanent housing for Marin’s aging population. Gardens and green space will stick around, showing a pretty clear commitment to the character of San Rafael’s neighborhoods.
This expansion brings essential services to the broader Marin County region. Next up: hitting fundraising goals and getting those design approvals, all within the current footprint.
People are leaning on that ongoing public-private partnership, which honestly has become a bit of a model for places like Novato and Larkspur. Homeward Bound aims for a 2029 opening, and you can bet San Rafael, Novato, and the rest of Marin will be watching—and hoping—for a future where all aging residents feel stable and cared for.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin nonprofit buys property to house homeless seniors
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