50 Years of Ending Homelessness

Homeward Bound of Marin launches as Marin Housing Center, opening a San Rafael shelter for four families with backing from Marin County’s interfaith community.

Our team opens Mill Street Center in San Rafael as shelter for 50 adults.

Our staff organizes first winter shelter in a 5,000-square-foot tent at the National Guard Armory in San Rafael. This seasonal shelter later moved to the former World College West campus and the Marin Civic Center.

Novato city officials begin discussing civilian use of Hamilton Air Force Base, including space for shelter services.

Marin Housing Center incorporates as Homeward Bound of Marin with the mission of “Opening doors to safety, dignity, hope and independence.”

New Beginnings Center opens as a shelter for 80 adults, the first in the country founded on a decommissioned military base.

Fresh Starts Culinary Academy opens to provide employment training in the shelter kitchen.

Homeward Bound issues the first “nonprofit IPO,” an “Immediate Public Opportunity…to end homelessness” by purchasing fundraising “shares” to complete the Next Key Center. Renowned investor Warren Buffett buys the first share.

Grand Opening for the Next Key Center, including 32 studio apartments, a training kitchen for Fresh Starts Culinary Academy and The Key Room event space.

Fresh Starts Chef Events hosts its first guests for a culinary experience.

Oma Village opens in Novato, providing permanent supportive housing for 18 families.

King Street Senior Housing opens in Larkspur, providing permanent supportive housing for 12 seniors.

Former motel in Corte Madera opens as La Casa Buena, providing permanent supportive housing for 18 adults.

Former Mill Street Center shelter reopens as Jonathan’s Place, with shelter services for 40 adults plus permanent supportive housing for 32 people.

Construction begins for 24 apartments for veterans, the first phase of completing the Hamilton campus.

Grand Opening for Puett Place veterans housing and Sweeney Place apartments allow Homeward Bound of Marin to achieve the goal of creating 50 homes to mark its 50th anniversary.