This San Rafael update takes a look at the city’s plan for a temporary tiny cabin project at 350 Merrydale Road. The site will shelter about 70 unhoused residents.
It also covers the expanded contract with FS Global, the funding structure involving Marin County and the state ERF grant, and the path toward permanent affordable housing in Marin County by 2029.
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Overview of the Merrydale tiny cabin project
The city of San Rafael has approved operations management for a temporary tiny cabin site on Merrydale Road. The site is meant to house around 70 unhoused residents.
After seeing the Mahon Creek sanctioned encampment work out pretty well, the city expanded its contract with Foege Schumann Global Disaster Solutions (FS Global). FS Global will handle installation, security, site management, and ongoing maintenance.
The Merrydale site will have 65 private, lockable cabins with electricity and heating. Each cabin includes personal storage, and residents will share kitchens, laundry, bathrooms, and showers.
About 50 people currently living at Mahon Creek—who’ve spent months in tents, often in the rain—are expected to transition into these cabins starting in July.
Across Marin County and in towns like Novato, San Anselmo, and Larkspur, this plan has sparked some lively conversations about how to provide shelter with support services. The goal is a humane, orderly transition that fits with the county’s housing-first approach.
The Merrydale site is just one piece in the larger continuum of care for unhoused residents, including those in Mill Valley and Tiburon.
Site design and amenities
Key features of the Merrydale site:
- 65 private, lockable cabins with electricity and heating
- Personal storage space for residents
- Shared kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, and showers
- On-site security and routine maintenance provided by FS Global
- Proximity to San Rafael services and transportation for access to case management and benefits
In Marin County’s rolling hills, the Merrydale plan feels like a practical, low-barrier approach. It’s designed to meet immediate needs while supporting longer-term goals for Salazar neighborhood residents who want stability near Downtown San Rafael.
Funding, governance, and timelines
The FS Global contract now runs through June 30, 2028 and has increased by $2.5 million, bringing the total to $3.8 million. The funding comes from county money and the state Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) grant.
The ERF requires a “housing first” approach—shelter comes before other needs, with services layered in after. Marin County and ERF are both helping fund this project, aiming to expand interim housing while working toward permanent affordable housing on the Merrydale site.
Interim project costs are around $12.5 million. Marin County is putting in about $8 million to buy the land and run the program for two years, with an option for a one-year extension if more funds show up.
The interim site must close by June 30, 2029. By then, the city has to permit an affordable housing development of at least 80 units for households at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI).
The city is chasing new ERF funds for rental assistance for residents still there after closure. It’s also hosted a developer workshop to gather proposals for permanent affordable housing on the Merrydale site.
Resident outcomes at Mahon Creek and expectations for Merrydale
Mahon Creek, which started in 2024 with ERF funds, has seen some promising results. Every resident there gets case management, 53 people have obtained benefits or increased income, and seven have moved into permanent housing.
With the Merrydale move-in starting in July, San Rafael and Marin County hope to keep up the momentum. They want residents to transition smoothly from tents to cabins, with dignity and access to services intact.
For communities across Marin County—whether in Ross, Fairfax, or San Rafael’s own Canal District—the Merrydale project marks a real shift. It’s a shelter-first strategy paired with targeted supports, and a pretty concrete path to permanent affordable housing in the coming years.
What’s next for Merrydale and Marin’s housing landscape
San Rafael’s planners will soon review proposals from developers interested in the Merrydale site’s 80-unit affordable housing requirement. Right now, rental assistance through ERF funds might last longer than the initial two-year window if folks still need it.
For residents, moving from temporary cabin shelter to permanent affordable housing is still the main goal. You’ll hear the same story in Marin City and across Marin County, as towns like Novato keep exploring these shelter-to-home transitions.
This whole approach feels like it lines up with the region’s push for solutions that honor dignity, stability, and opportunity for everyone in Marin County. Will it work out perfectly? That’s the hope, though it’s never simple.
Here is the source article for this story: Tiny Homes To Replace Tents For Unsheltered In Marin Co.
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