We’re expanding our supportive housing programs in Novato with 24 small apartments for unhoused veterans. The new veterans housing has the potential to make Marin County one of the first in California to end veteran homelessness. Your gift will help make history!

The veterans housing is Phase 1 of a larger development that will provide workforce housing and space to grow our social enterprise businesses. The later phase adds 26 apartments for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness and a manufacturing bakery, plus teaching and office space for our culinary team.

A row of disused warehouses has been removed from the site, which is commonly known as the “HUD Parcel.” The new veterans housing and basic site work for the later development phase will finish in winter 2024.

Homeward Bound has served veterans through its entire 49-year history.  For the last 20+ years, we have offered specialized services and reserve 12 beds for unhoused veterans at the New Beginnings Center shelter in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We also host a Veterans Affairs representative on our site. In the year ending June 30, 2022, our programs served 54 veterans.

With community partners, Homeward Bound has identified veterans in Marin who lack stable housing. We expect our new program will be able to accommodate everyone on that list.

“This significant and timely project marks a milestone for our community,’ says Mary Kay Sweeney, Co-Chief Executive Officer for Homeward Bound. “Ending veteran homelessness is a goal that we have all been working toward because it’s absolutely the right thing to do.”

Key funding to launch the new veterans housing comes from a $4 million California state budget allocation; a $3 million grant from the California Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program; a $2 million commitment from the County of Marin, and $2.2 million from Marin Community Foundation. The project also  received a federal budget allocation of $750,000 and a $400,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation, with support for pre-development costs from  the City of Novato and Tamalpais Pacific.

We’d love to tell you more about the Hamilton HUD Parcel project and how this new housing will offer the foundation that Marin’s unhoused veterans need to rebuild their futures. For more information about the Hamilton HUD Parcel project or to learn about funding opportunities, please email us or call 415-382-3363 x216.