City of San Rafael Sanctioned Camping Program
The City is establishing a sanctioned camping area along the northern portion of the Mahon Creek Path through grant funding provided by the State of California Encampment Resolution Funding Program.
Why the Camping Area has Been Established
Individuals experiencing homelessness have been camping in this area in recent years. When the City banned camping at Albert Park, members of that encampment relocated to the Mahon Creek Path Area, including a portion of Lindaro Street. In December of last year, the City then banned camping along Lindaro Street due to it being a school route, resulting in more individuals moving to the nearby Mahon Creek Path and along Andersen Drive.
The grant funding this program requires that the funds are used to provide alternative shelter in the general proximity of the existing unsanctioned Mahon Creek Path Area encampment. Given this, the City’s ability to establish the sanctioned camping site is constrained. Furthermore, the City does not own land elsewhere that is suitable for this type of program, and the City’s diligent year long search for a privately property alternative location for interim/transitional housing sites did not yield results. Lastly, service providers recommend that the City provide a site that individuals can walk to access services and food, and to provide a location that reduces disruption to those currently camping in the area.