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Marin County

Uniting for a Thriving Marin County

Lasting Impact Through Collaborative Action

 

Welcome to our Marin County regional page. Nestled amidst breathtaking natural beauty and renowned for its vibrant communities, Marin County is a place we are deeply committed to supporting and strengthening. We recognize that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

 

Even in the picturesque landscapes of Marin County, there are challenges that require our attention and collective effort. From providing access to quality food and basic needs to affordable housing, we are committed to addressing the pressing needs of our Marin residents.

 

Through this page, we aim to provide you with valuable data and insights that shed light on the specific challenges faced by Marin County and how we are working together to create lasting change.

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We Are Stronger Together.

 

Rachel moved to California with four children and $80 in her pocket. She worked hard, but there came a time when she needed help with food and money to pay rent.

 

Rachel contacted United Way Bay Area, and we supported her with urgent help for her basic needs as well as tax preparation and financial coaching to help her take charge of her financial future.

 

Rachel was so grateful for the help she received that she wrote a poem, which included these lines: “United Way has always given a hand to those in need—to continue to grow, and plant great seeds.”

19,470 individuals are food insecure

9,230 low-income renter households do not have access to an affordable home

$125,751 Real cost measure for a family of 4

The Need in Marin County

Access to basic needs is difficult for many

22,296 households in Marin County struggle to meet basic needs including paying for food and groceries, housing and utility bills; and keeping up with monthly car payments and other transportation costs.

The wealth gap is increasing

Among full time workers In Marin County, the income of low-wage workers decreased 9% between 2000 and 2019, while high-wage workers' income increased 9%

Housing is a cost burden for many residents

40,404 households in Marin County are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.

Our Impact in the Community

 

 

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Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)

(We allocate the funding distributed through this program via partner organizations, ensuring the eight Bay Area counties we serve continue to receive the appropriate level of federal resources so residents can access basic needs.)

 

As the pandemic continued affecting Marin County residents, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) provided 65,096 meals

 

Learn More About EFSP

Free Tax Help

(Free tax preparation for anyone who needs it)

 

Free Tax Help has helped provide $1,904,160 in refunds back into the pockets of Marin County residents

 

Learn More About Our Free Tax Help Program

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Housing Justice

(We mobilize support for solutions through public awareness and will-building, and advocate for policies that increase supply and improve conditions and access, while helping residents meet immediate housing needs.)

 

$106,393 in rental relief was provided in FY22 to residents in Marin county

 

Learn More About our Housing Justice initiative

Explore the Data

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The Real Cost Measure

 

United Ways of California, in partnership with California’s 29 local United Ways, is proud to release How Much it Costs to Struggle: The Real Cost Measure in California 2023, a study on what it takes to make ends meet in California.

 

Unlike the official poverty measure which primarily accounts for the cost of food, the Real Cost Measure factors the costs of housing, food, health care, childcare, transportation and other basic needs to reveal what it really costs to live in California.


Explore our Real Cost Measure dashboard
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211 Bay Area

 

(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services))

 

2-1-1 phone and text services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are available in 150 languages through phone interpretation services and English and Spanish for text services.


Explore our 211 Dashboard

Unlock the Impact: Discover How United Way Bay Area is Changing Lives in Your Community

 

Get exclusive access to United Way Bay Area’s Regional Community Impact Report. Discover how we served 649,000+ individuals, provided $1.6 million in assistance, and partnered with 259 organizations to support families in need. Opt-in now to see detailed, county-specific impact numbers and be part of the change!

 

Bay Area Impact Analysis By County

 

We have been working to alleviate poverty across our eight‐county region for a century. We invite you to learn more about our work, our relationships.

 

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Alameda County

116,630 individuals are experiencing food insecurity in Alameda County alone.

See Alameda’s Need

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Contra Costa County

27,709 renter-households with low incomes DO NOT have access to an affordable home.

See Contra Costa’s Need

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Marin County

40,404 households in Marin County spend more than 30% of household income on rent.

See Marin County’s Need

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Napa County

Full-time income for workers in low-wage jobs decreased 10% between 2000 and 2019, while high-wage job income increased 13%.

See Napa County’s Need

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San Francisco County

A typical family of four needs $127,332 just to meet basic needs. The median income for SF residents is $119,136.

See San Francisco’s Need

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San Mateo County

33,374 individuals have been served through UWBA programs – that’s nearly twice the seating capacity of the Chase Center.

See San Mateo’s Need

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Santa Clara County

27,400 children are experiencing food insecurity.

See Santa Clara’s Need

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Solano County

54,584 households are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.

See Solano County’s Need

Partner Agencies

 

  • Adopt A Family of Marin Offsite*
  • Asian Pacific American Community Center
  • Asian, Inc.
  • Bay Area Legal Aid
  • Canal Alliance*
  • Community Action Marin*
  • Homeward Bound of Marin*
  • Legal Aid of Marin
  • Planned Parenthood Northern California
  • San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
  • St. Vincent de Paul Marin County
  • Vivalon
  • YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley Offsite

 

* UWBA Grantees

Make a Difference

 

We have been working to alleviate poverty across our eight‐county region for a century. We invite you to learn more about our work, our relationships.

 

Support Our Region

Now that you know the need, support our region and make a difference today!

Give

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Partner With Us On Your CSR Goals

Find out how we can partner to amplify your community support and create a lasting impact together.

Partnerships

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Your Voice Matters

Raise your voice and advocate for policy measures that drive positive change and uplift the needs of our community.

Advocate

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Thank you!

Please check your inbox for the link to access to the impact data eight bay area counties!

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Marin County Quiz

How many residents are food insecure in Marin County?





How much did the income of low-wage workers decrease between 2000 and 2019?