It’s been 25 years since we opened New Beginnings Center, the country’s first homeless shelter built on a decommissioned military base. That means we’re celebrating the birth of our campus as we also celebrate its “adulthood” by completing new homes and the Gilardi Training and Events Center!
The 80-bed center became the first year-round shelter for unhoused adults in Marin County, based on a vision of creating stronger pathways for people moving out of crisis. Homeward Bound of Marin launched a culinary training program there soon afterward.
New Beginnings Center and our Jonathan’s Place shelter in San Rafael make up the bulk of our adult shelter services, providing meals, counseling, safe accommodation and connection to resources for employment, medical needs, training and mental health support. Last year, the center served 172 people.
Opening the center led immediately to thoughts of expanding the site to grow pathways for success. That dream culminates on June 5, when the Grand Opening of Gilardi Training and Events Center sets the last big piece in a two-year project to complete our campus.
“We got the idea early to create a year-round, multi-service center with job training and opportunities. It just took a long time to get there,” says Bob Puett, a member of our Board of Directors who worked on opening New Beginnings Center. “The ‘two hots and a cot’ formula – a bed and food – needed to be more.”
Building New Beginnings Center became the seed that rooted many programs to follow. For its 25th year, New Beginnings Center has begun a host of upgrades to boost energy efficiency and refresh the building. This doyenne of our campus will be prepared to serve people taking steps out of homelessness for decades to come.
About Homeward Bound of Marin
Homeward Bound of Marin is the primary provider of Marin County homeless shelters and services for homeless families and individuals in Marin, California. Learn more about our programs here.