Our History

50 Years of Ending Homelessness

housing icon

1974

Family Center. The first program

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.

shelter icon

1986

exterior of a one story dwelling with a street sign in front of it.

Opens Mill Street Center in San Rafael as shelter for 50 adults.

shelter icon

1987

The tent where Homeward Bound provided shelter

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

shelter icon

1994

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

housing icon

1996

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

shelter icon

2000

New Beginnings Center

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

event icon

2003

Five chefs posing for the camera, one holding a tray of food

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

finance icon

2007

Nonprofit IPO - first share signed by Warren Buffett

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.

housing icon

2008

4 people, including Mary Kay Sweeney, cutting a ribbon outside The Next Key Center.

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.

event icon

2011

Chef Yoshi Tome talks into a microphone

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

housing icon

2016

A kitchen at Oma Village

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

housing icon

2019

A room with a window and three sofas

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

housing icon

2022

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

shelter icon

2022

A man talks at a podium in front of a room of seated guests at the grand opening of Jonathan's Place

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

housing icon

2023

3-story building under construction.

Construction begins for 24 apartments for veterans at the Hamilton site.