*UPDATED 8/26/25* 6th and B Interim Housing Public Statement & Frequently Asked Questions

Update!

At the August 26 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board voted to approve and authorize the Purchase and Sale Agreement between CLAM and the County of Marin for the property located at B and 6th Street in Point Reyes Station. CLAM and the County are eager to move forward together in a back-to-back escrow process to purchase the lot for $1,100,000.

Over the coming months, the Board will review additional agreements related to developing and operating the homes on wheels. Both CLAM and the County remain committed to our shared vision and long-term goal of transforming this lot into permanent affordable homes, following all standard review and approval processes.


Key Takeaways

  • Nearly 40 working families are facing immediate displacement from their residences on ranch properties in West Marin.

  • CLAM is partnering with Marin County to acquire the lot at 6th and B Streets in downtown Point Reyes Station for both interim and permanent housing.

  • The goal is to provide immediate housing for 12 to 16 families facing displacement by deploying several high-quality portable, prefab homes-on-wheels.

  • This interim housing solution will be operational by early 2026 through 2027 and renewed as needed under the Emergency Shelter Declaration.

  • The 6th and B project is estimated to cost $6 million; Marin County is prepared to provide the majority of funding for the land acquisition. This investment will go towards the estimated $18-$20 million needed to house all the families facing displacement from the ranch closures.

  • CLAM and the County are developing additional funding partnerships beyond the current support.

  • CLAM will transition the site to permanent affordable housing in partnership with other housing developers such as Habitat for Humanity.

  • The 6th and B lot is the first of several interim housing projects CLAM is advancing in an effort to address the shelter crisis.

  • Interim housing solutions for all 40 families facing displacement are projected to cost $18 million to $20 million.


CLAM Announces Partnership with Marin County to Build Critical Housing for Displaced Ranch Families

From Crisis to Collaborative Solutions

Nearly 40 families living on Martinelli Ranch and Point Reyes National Seashore properties are facing immediate displacement due to deteriorating housing conditions and planned closures. These working families — teachers, healthcare workers, and other service workers, many with children in our local schools — are vital contributors to West Marin's community. Nearly all of these families are Latino, with deep generational roots in West Marin.

This represents an unprecedented displacement crisis requiring collaborative solutions at a scale not seen before in West Marin. With the region's severe affordable housing shortage, interim housing solutions are critical to preserve our community and prevent these families from being forced to leave.

To address this crisis, the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Marin County to acquire the vacant 6th and B lot property in Point Reyes Station, located at the corner of 6th and B Streets, with the shared goal of creating both interim housing for several of the displaced families as well as future permanent, affordable housing at the site.

The partnership with the County aims to develop at least 12 to 16 high quality homes-on-wheels for interim housing, with an ambitious timeline for residents to move in by early 2026. These homes will operate for 3 to 5 years while CLAM continues to simultaneously develop site infrastructure — septic, utilities, road access — that serves both the interim housing and future permanent affordable housing development. The total cost of this project is estimated to be $6 million; Marin County and other funding partners will be providing a majority of the financial support for the project.

In the future, we hope to sell a portion of the portable, prefab homes-on-wheels to residents within our community and neighboring areas. These units can serve as accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to help expand and reinvigorate our mission of establishing more permanent affordable housing, and re-using resources to maximize our impact.

The 6th and B lot represents the first of many interim housing sites that CLAM is advancing to ensure that all families facing displacement will have housing options.

Community Engagement and Partnership 

Recognizing that interim housing expands on CLAM’s traditional mission of developing permanently affordable homes for local workforce families, we are temporarily broadening our efforts with community partners to meet the urgent needs of local families facing displacement.

Our work at 6th and B builds on extensive due diligence, negotiations, and a Marin Community Foundation-funded feasibility study (conducted by CLAM with County support) that identified this as a priority site. CLAM's goal is to act as a steward of the property.

CLAM is actively engaging with families at risk of displacement through our collaborations with West Marin Community Services, the Families Affected by Relocation/Familias Afectadas del Rancho (FAR), and our participation in the Coalition for Housing All Workers and Their Families (CHAWTF), which is working to ensure safe, stable, affordable housing for Latinos and other lower-wage workers and their families in West Marin. Legal Aid of Marin has been providing ongoing tenant education and legal representation to support residents through previous meetings and one-on-one assistance.

At a resident meeting earlier this year, convened jointly by FAR and West Marin Community Services with representatives from both Martinelli and Seashore families, attendees expressed excitement about CLAM's potential housing solutions and said they would be eager to live in housing provided by CLAM if it were an option.

At other recent community meetings attended by the local community at large and neighbors of the 6th and B lot, we discussed the progress of the project and answered questions regarding the interim housing process. We fielded concerns about the project timeline, zoning details, and neighborhood involvement.

As we look to keep the local community updated and involved as the 6th and B project evolves, we will be hosting more community meetings and events with our neighbors at Walnut Place, Papermill Creek preschool, and the homeowners association adjacent to the 6th and B lot so that their concerns can be addressed.

The 6th and B lot alone will not house all families facing displacement in West Marin. Interim housing solutions for all 40 families facing displacement are projected to cost $18 million to $20 million, which includes costs for 6th and B and 3 to 5 years of operational costs across multiple sites.

The $6 million interim housing investment in the 6th and B lot project represents the critical first step in a comprehensive housing strategy for West Marin, and the immediate crisis response also serves as the foundation for West Marin's broader goals for affordable housing and housing stability.

Beyond 6th and B, we are working with Marin County, Marin Community Foundation, West Marin Fund, Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) and other partners to identify additional potential interim housing sites throughout West Marin.

Implementation and Timeline

Recognizing the time-sensitive nature of the displacement crisis, CLAM and Marin County are seeking to purchase the 6th and B lot together, with the County providing the majority of funding and CLAM using its Interim Housing Initiative fund to cover the remaining costs. Our Interim Housing Initiative fund has been supported by the Marin Community Foundation, the West Marin Fund, and by donations from our CLAM members and donors. This collaborative approach allows both organizations to move quickly on securing the property and the associated permits to enable expedited development of interim housing at the site.

The partnership also allows the project to leverage Marin County's Shelter Crisis Declaration to streamline permitting. County ownership reduces legal and regulatory risks for CLAM during interim housing operations, while enabling zoning and CEQA exemptions for faster development. CLAM will serve as the long-term steward of the 6th and B property, and negotiations are underway for transfer agreements that will return the property in its entirety to CLAM for permanent affordable housing development.

This partnership brings together an unprecedented coalition of organizations focused on funding solutions that keep working families housed in West Marin. They include CLAM, Marin County, Marin Community Foundation, West Marin Fund, West Marin Community Services, and generous community supporters.

We are grateful to the folks at the Bolinas Community Land Trust (BCLT) for sharing their learnings from their interim and long-term housing efforts at Bo-Linda Vista.

CLAM and the County are continuing to refine their partnership framework, with the Board of Supervisors voting on July 15th to formalize our collaborative plans. Pending final approval by the Board of Supervisors, we aim to have interim housing ready by early 2026.

We will provide updates as decisions and agreements are finalized. Additionally, as we continue to evaluate other potential interim housing sites throughout West Marin, we will keep the community informed about these opportunities to serve more displaced families.


Community Support

“My parents already have jobs here, my little brother goes to school here, and I’m hoping to find work here too. I feel this disconnect, not knowing if I should keep building my life here or start somewhere else. The opportunity for temporary housing would feel like community, like we’re coming together and being supported.” - Villalobos Family, Daughter, resident of Point Reyes National Seashore

“Two years ago, we were selling cows; I lost my job, and now we’re almost without a home. Since then, I’ve found work here, my wife has a job here, and our son is still in school—he’ll graduate next year. It’s very important for us to stay local, not just for me, but for my whole family. The opportunity to have temporary housing would mean a lot. It would give us more time to find something nearby—not just wherever there’s space, but in the community where we live and work.” - Villalobos Family, Father, resident of Point Reyes National Seashore

“I've been in Marin County for 25 years, in Point Reyes, and I have a family of 3 children and my wife. We were impacted by the housing problem in Martinelli's ranch, and it is a pleasure, a pleasure to open these opportunities with CLAM to help the housing problem so we can continue to be in the community and continue supporting the community. Supporting so that the community is not left alone and has more help with labor and so that we can continue united as a family here in the town. And it is very nice to have the temporary houses because we would be united again.” - Enrique Hernandez, resident at Martinelli Ranch`

"This partnership represents exactly the kind of innovative collaboration needed to address our housing crisis. The County is proud to work with CLAM to ensure working families can remain in the community they serve." - Leelee Thomas, Deputy Director, Community Development Agency, County of Marin 

"Marin Community Foundation is pleased to partner with the County of Marin, West Marin Fund, and other public and private funders to support CLAM’s community-driven interim and permanent housing solutions in West Marin." - Cassandra Benjamin, Interim Director of Housing, Marin Community Foundation

"This effort demonstrates what's possible when organizations pull together to create solutions that matter to our community. West Marin Fund strongly supports housing initiatives that promote our community's diversity and character." - Sarah Hobson, Executive Director, West Marin Fund

"We've seen firsthand how displacement affects families, and CLAM's approach offers real hope. Having dignified housing options means families can stay connected to their schools, jobs, and community networks." - Alma Sanchez, Abriendo Caminos Program Manager at West Marin Community Services

"The CLAM project exemplifies the kind of innovative, community-driven solutions that are so urgently needed. We are excited about the possibility of partnering with CLAM to bring this vision to life, helping to ensure that West Marin remains a vibrant, inclusive place for generations to come. Together, we can build homes that not only shelter families but also strengthen the fabric of our shared community." – Maureen Sedonaen, CEO at Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco


Show Your Support

Help CLAM raise additional funding so that we can invest in affordable housing in our community. You can make a donation to our interim housing initiative fund.

To learn more about CLAM’s work, upcoming community meetings, and actions to support affordable housing in West Marin, sign up for CLAM’s newsletter.


CLAM 6th and B Lot Project Frequently Asked Questions

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Acquisition: 6th & B

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An Update on Housing for Displaced Ranch Families: Second Street