Bay Area

$4 Million Dedicated to Affordable Housing in Fairfax: County loan allows nonprofit to purchase, rehabilitate apartments

The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 million loan[PDF] from the County’s Affordable Housing Fund on January 31 so a nonprofit housing development and management company can buy and refurbish an 80-unit complex in Fairfax, preserving it for lower-income residents.

Published

4 months ago

February 25, 2023

Oakland Post

Sherwood Oaks Apartments in Fairfax

San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 million loan[PDF] from the County’s Affordable Housing Fund on January 31 so a nonprofit housing development and management company can buy and refurbish an 80-unit complex in Fairfax, preserving it for lower-income residents.

MidPen Housing Corporation[External] will receive the loan from the Affordable Housing Fund, designed to support multifamily projects throughout Marin that house those earning at or below 80% of the area median income, or about $149,100 for a household of four. Marin, one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, is experiencing a severe shortage of homes for lower-income households.

The funding is earmarked for Sherwood Oaks Apartments at 200 Bolinas Road in downtown Fairfax, walking distance from grocery stores, parks, and public transit and situated in a highly regarded school district. MidPen, based in San Mateo County, is seeking additional grants and loans to complete its first acquisition in Marin.

The County’s loan is coordinated by the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) Housing and Federal Grants Division. The fund helps the County leverage additional state, federal and philanthropic dollars to increase the supply of affordable homes in Marin. MidPen’s acquisition of Sherwood Oaks will make the units permanently affordable with restrictions to prevent future displacement of existing residents and add to inventory of homes deemed affordable compared with the rest of Marin.

With social equity and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as driving motivations, the County has a long track record of effective use of the Affordable Housing Fund. CDA strives to work with nonprofits that foster diverse communities and allow residents from all backgrounds live in dignity, harmony, stability, and respect. MidPen’s project aligns with the County goal of providing housing in high-opportunity areas, defined as places that already have strong economic, environmental, and educational outcomes for residents.

Affordable Housing Fund money has been distributed through the years to projects in Marin’s cities and towns as well as the unincorporated areas of West Marin. Recent allotments have gone toward the conversion of former U.S. Coast Guard multifamily housing in Point Reyes Station, an acquisition by BRIDGE Housing, and several projects managed by Homeward Bound of Marin.

Learn more about CDA housing’s program or the federal grants program on the County website.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of June 7 – 13, 2023

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 7 – 13, 2023

Published

1 day ago

June 9, 2023

Oakland Post

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 7 - 13, 2023

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Activism

Big Picture Living Day

Through their global network of nearly 300 schools, Big Picture Learning activates their core initiatives by encouraging 6 healthy habits of proper nutrition, movement, healthy relationships, managing stress, adequate sleep and avoiding substances of risks.

Published

1 week ago

June 2, 2023

Oakland Post

By Carla Thomas

On Friday, June 2 Big Picture Lving Day will be celebrated with a series of virtual events designed to improve the life of participants. Through a virtual network of schools and organizations the event will feature speakers on health, wellness, mindfulness, exercise, and overcoming challenges.

Participants will practice Yoga & Mindfulness with Dawn M. Rivers.

Dr. Marsha-Gail Davis will discuss lifestyle medicine and healthy practices, and BPL alumni former advisor Chef Bree reunites with former principal Danique “Dr. DD” Dolly and a few of their former students will discuss health and lifestyle changes.

Big Picture Learning Day was created by

Big Picture Learning, an organization of progressive learning concepts centered around the belief that all students can and should live lives of their own design, supported by caring mentors and equitable opportunities to achieve their greatest potential.

Co-founded by Elliott Washor a veteran educational leader in Rhode Island, BPL grew out of a passion for students and improving the concept of learning.

“We just had this fierce desire to evolve our educational system to one that puts students at the center of their own learning with mentors, time immersed in the community and not evaluated solely on standardized tests,” said Washor.

“The entire Big Picture Learning experience is personalized to each student’s interests, talents and needs beyond mere academic work and involves looking at each student holistically.”

Former BPL principal, Danique Dolly says, “There are youth and adults in schools and organizations throughout the nation practicing the 6 healthy habits and speaking up on it. People have created rooms and spaces that focus on relaxation and meditation. Many adults and youth are taking steps towards wellness, a total lifestyle change and health and wellness are a part of students learning goals just as English and math are.”

“With BPLiving Day we invite all to get up, get out and get living and to do something around health and wellness,” said Dolly.

For students Jasmine Poirier and Angel Feliz and educator Andrew Coburn BPL has been life changing.

“Through collaborative physical movement, nutrition education and eating healthy together and various group activities for relaxation and mental health support, many are finding ways to live healthier and happier,” said Colburn. “For Big Picture Living Day we’re celebrating lifelong healthy habits for teens and the communities around them. BPL Day is a celebration of all the progress we have made.”

“Whether it is in my school campus or through a zoom call with people all across the world, BPLiving has an ability to bring people together to share wellness habits with each other,” said Feliz.

“Through spreading the principles of BPLiving into the everyday academic learning of my peers, I have seen them improve the quality of their lives physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Poirier. “By reestablishing sports culture with school-wide volleyball and capture the flag tournaments, students have been able to connect with each other across different grade levels, become more physically active and take a break from our everyday learning.”

In Oakland at MetWest, a BPL school in Oakland, the garden is run by parents and students. The garden serves as the foundation for nutritional learning and generational collaboration.

Today, Big Picture Learning network schools can be found in over 80 schools in 28 states, and hundreds more around the world.

For more information visit BigPicture.org