Marin Housing Authority

What Marin Housing Authority does

Marin Housing Authority (MHA), legally the Housing Authority of the County of Marin, is a public corporation established under California state law and designated as the local Public Housing Authority for Marin County. Founded in 1942 and headquartered at 4020 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael, MHA administers federally funded HUD housing programs for very low-income families, seniors (62+), disabled individuals, chronically homeless persons, and domestic violence survivors. It is governed by a seven-member Housing Authority Commission composed of five County Board of Supervisors members and two public housing tenant commissioners.

MHA's product portfolio is built on two core HUD programs: the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, where the agency pays the landlord directly while participants contribute approximately 30% of their monthly adjusted income, and the Public Housing program, which includes the Golden Gate Village family development (undergoing multi-year revitalization with Burbank Housing) and five AMP2 senior/disabled properties (Casa Nova, Golden Hinde, Homestead Terrace, Kruger Pines, and Venetia Oaks). Supporting programs include Below Market Rate and HCV Homeownership pathways, Family Self Sufficiency, Shelter Plus Care, HOPWA, the Marin County Homeless Coordinated Entry System, and a Landlord Partnership Program offering security deposit and loss mitigation incentives. Technology is delivered through the third-party Rent Café portal (AppVault/Yardi) for applicant and participant self-service and the Yardi property management system for unit operations.

MHA's revenue model is structurally non-commercial: the agency does not charge fees to participants. Funding flows primarily from HUD formula grants (HCV allocations, Community Development Block Grants, public housing operating subsidies), with secondary inflow from tenant rent contributions paid through landlords. By statute, 75% of HCVs must be issued to applicants at or below 30% of Marin County area median income, and voucher payment standards effective October 1, 2024 range from $1,876 (SRO) to $5,565 (5-bedroom). Demand substantially exceeds supply, with HCV wait times averaging approximately 5 years.

Name

Marin Housing Authority

Legal name

The Housing Authority of the County of Marin

Website

https://marinhousing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marin Housing Authority is a California public housing authority that administers HUD-funded Housing Choice Vouchers and Public Housing across Marin County for very low-income families, seniors, disabled individuals, and chronically homeless residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Administration

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (92511), Residential Property Managers (531311), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD), Fair Housing, Compliance & Housing Program Oversight (FSALAKAN), Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF)

Keywords

• Public housing assistance
• Affordable rental housing
• Housing choice vouchers
• Federal housing programs
• Public housing authority

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. HUD Federal Funding: Primary funding source from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through formula grants including Community Development Block Grants and Section 8 HCV program allocations
2. Tenant Rent Payments: Families receiving housing assistance pay approximately 30% of their monthly income toward rent, with MHA paying the remainder directly to landlords on behalf of participants

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Marin Housing Authority is a local government housing authority that administers federal affordable housing programs for low and moderate-income residents of Marin County, California. Its core offerings are the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) rental assistance program and the Public Housing program, supplemented by homeownership pathways, supportive services for homeless and special-needs populations, and a landlord partnership program. The Authority directly subsidizes rent payments to private landlords on behalf of participating families and operates multiple owned affordable housing properties.

Product overview

Marin Housing Authority operates a portfolio of federally-funded affordable housing programs, primarily composed of two core programs: the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) Program and the Public Housing Program, both administered under HUD regulations. These are supplemented by homeownership programs (Below Market Rate and HCV Homeownership), supportive services (Family Self Sufficiency, Shelter Plus Care, HOPWA, and Coordinated Entry), and the Landlord Partnership Program. The organization manages physical properties including the Golden Gate Village family development and five AMP2 senior/disabled properties (Casa Nova, Golden Hinde, Homestead Terrace, Kruger Pines, and Venetia Oaks). Resident and landlord interactions are facilitated through the Rent Café web portal. Major initiatives include the ongoing Golden Gate Village Revitalization and the Resident Empowerment Fund for community investment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Federal Section 8 rental assistance program providing decent, safe, and sanitary affordable rental housing for very low-income families in Marin County. The family pays approximately 30% of monthly income toward rent and MHA pays the remainder directly to the landlord. By law, 75% of vouchers are reserved for applicants at or below 30% of area median income.
• Public Housing Program Federally-funded public housing program administered by Marin Housing Authority for the County of Marin, providing affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals in MHA-owned properties.
• Golden Gate Village Family public housing development located at 429 Drake Ave, Sausalito, CA, currently undergoing a multi-year phased revitalization in partnership with Burbank Housing. Provides affordable rental housing to families and hosts the GGV Resident Community Center.
• AMP2 Senior and Disabled Housing Properties Five senior and disabled housing properties managed under HUD's Asset Management Project 2 (AMP2) designation: Casa Nova (Novato), Golden Hinde Apartments (San Rafael), Homestead Terrace (Mill Valley), Kruger Pines (Mill Valley), and Venetia Oaks (San Rafael).
• Below Market Rate (BMR) Homeownership Program Homeownership program providing below-market-rate housing units to moderate-income buyers, with eligibility determined by household income relative to Marin County area median income.
• Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program Enables HCV participants to apply their voucher toward homeownership rather than rental housing, subject to program eligibility requirements.
• Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program HUD program helping HCV and public housing families achieve economic independence through case management, escrow accounts, and referrals to job training, education, and supportive services.
• Shelter Plus Care Program Continuum of Care program providing permanent housing and supportive services to homeless individuals with disabilities.
• HOPWA (Housing Opportunities For People With AIDS) Federal program providing housing assistance and supportive services to low-income persons with HIV/AIDS and their families.
• GGV Resident Community Center Community center at 101 Drake Ave, Marin City, offering GGV residents access to rental assistance, food access programs, utility assistance, job training, and referrals through on-site partnerships with Community Action Marin, Health & Human Services, Career Point, Center for Domestic Peace, and YWCA.
• Resident Empowerment Fund Grant program approved by the Marin Housing Board of Commissioners in 2022 to provide enhanced services to Golden Gate Village residents, focusing on education and workforce development, emergency services, wealth creation, and health and wellbeing.
• Rent Café Self-Service Portal Online resident portal (apply.marinhousing.org) for applying to housing programs, checking waitlist status, completing annual and interim recertifications, submitting change of income forms, and managing housing assistance payments.
• Marin County Homeless Coordinated Entry System System coordinating access to homeless housing and services across Marin County, using a Housing First model with ongoing case management through the County of Marin Health and Human Services. Reserving up to 50 HCV placements annually for chronically homeless referrals.
• Landlord Partnership Program Program offering landlord incentives including security deposit assistance up to $2,500, loss mitigation up to $3,500 for damages, vacancy loss coverage up to $3,000, waived building permit fees, and a dedicated landlord liaison hotline, to expand the supply of available rental units for HCV participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Families pay approximately 30% of income for housing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AffordableHousing.comcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMHA has partnered with AffordableHousing.com to provide an enhanced program for listing rental properties online. Listings are available to potential Housing Choice Voucher tenants seeking apartment units, duplexes, single-family homes or townhomes in the private market. This partnership helps expand housing options for voucher holders and facilitates landlord participation in the HCV program.
• GoSection8.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner website for landlords to list properties available to Section 8 HCV participants, extending the reach of MHA's housing assistance programs into the private rental market.
• Community Action MarincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization providing on-site services at Golden Gate Village Community Center including rental assistance, food access, energy and water utility assistance, career coaching, and job training. Services available Thursdays 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
• Marin County Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides CalFresh/Medi-Cal applications, OD Free Marin/Narcan Training, Veterans Services, WIC services, Nutrition Wellness/Oral Health services at GGV Community Center. Also the designated provider for case management required for Coordinated Entry Housing First participants.
• Career PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides job search assistance, training opportunities, and introductions to local employers at GGV Community Center on Thursdays 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. as part of resident services ecosystem.
• Center for Domestic PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides crisis counseling, safety planning, emergency shelter, mental health services, and domestic violence support at GGV Community Center during drop-in hours Wednesdays 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Also a referral source for HCV placements (up to 15 annually) for domestic violence survivors.
• YWCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides computer skills and job training classes at GGV Community Center. Classes began June 20th from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. as part of resident empowerment and self-sufficiency services.
• Burbank HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for the Golden Gate Village Revitalization and capital improvement work. This partnership is implementing the phased revitalization of the GGV public housing development in partnership with MHA.
• Marin County Coordinated Entry SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Entry provider for Marin County, responsible for referring chronically homeless individuals to MHA for HCV placements (up to 50 annually) under a Housing First model with mandatory case management through County Health and Human Services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency: Combined housing authority and redevelopment agency serving Sacramento. Comparable in mission and federal program administration, though broader in scope due to its redevelopment mandate.

Others

• Burbank Housing: Nonprofit affordable housing developer partnering with MHA on the Golden Gate Village Revitalization. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — operates in development/ownership rather than government program administration.

Direct peers

• Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco: San Francisco's housing authority administers federal HUD HCV and public housing programs in a similarly high-cost Bay Area market. Directly comparable in mission, programs, and regulatory environment to Marin Housing Authority.
• Santa Clara County Housing Authority: County-level housing authority administering HCV and public housing across Santa Clara County. Highly comparable governance structure (county-administered), program mix, and Bay Area market context.
• Oakland Housing Authority: City of Oakland's housing authority operates HCV and public housing programs in the Bay Area. Comparable in scale, program mix, and HUD oversight, serving a similar low-income renter population under identical federal frameworks.
• Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa: Contra Costa County's housing authority administers Section 8 and public housing programs in another Bay Area jurisdiction. Comparable in regulatory framework, county-scale operations, and program portfolio.
• Berkeley Housing Authority: City of Berkeley's housing authority administers Section 8 HCV and public housing in another high-cost Bay Area jurisdiction. Directly comparable in scope and tenant demographics to Marin Housing Authority.
• Alameda County Housing Authority: Alameda County's housing authority is a larger but structurally similar county-level public housing authority in the Bay Area, operating HCV and public housing programs under identical HUD regulations.
• Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo: San Mateo County's housing authority serves a similarly affluent, high-cost Bay Area county with comparable federal HUD programs. Governance structure and tenant base align closely with Marin Housing Authority.

Regional players

• Sonoma County Housing Authority: Neighboring Northern California county housing authority administering HUD programs. Comparable in program mix and regulatory environment but in a different regional housing market from Marin County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Marin Housing Authority