A growing share of Marin renters' housing costs comes from fees beyond base rent, and one worth understanding is RUBS. Under a Ratio Utility Billing System, landlords in larger buildings separate unmetered utilities, like water, trash, and sewer, from rent and divide them across tenants by formula rather than actual use. These are often not included in advertisements and hidden in long leases, making the cost of housing hard to anticipate. As these unpredictable costs stack onto rent, they can contribute to rent burden and, in some cases, falling behind and eviction. Learn more about what Marin renters are facing and how RUBS works in The Guardian. https://lnkd.in/gdTY8uyJ
About us
Legal Aid of Marin’s mission is to create an equitable Marin by empowering the community through legal representation, advocacy and education. We envision an inclusive Marin with equal justice and opportunity for all.
- Website
-
http://legalaidmarin.org
External link for Legal Aid of Marin
- Industry
- Legal Services
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- San Rafael, CA
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1958
- Specialties
- housing, employment, debtor rights, civil rights, community court, and estate planning
Locations
-
Primary
Get directions
1401 Los Gamos Drive
Suite 101
San Rafael, CA 94903, US
Employees at Legal Aid of Marin
Updates
-
Legal Aid of Marin reposted this
We look forward to being part of the Marin Housing Solutions Forum, alongside Greenbelt Alliance, Marin Community Foundation, and College of Marin on September 22nd at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm. 🏡 This forum will spotlight lessons from West Marin’s recent housing development and community member support process, feature insights from community leaders and partners, and highlight housing measures on the November ballot. ✅ RSVP today! https://lnkd.in/gjDjHR7Z
-
-
We’re so grateful to be part of a community that works together to end housing precarity and prevent homelessness. Thank you for your leadership Sarah Jones!
Marin is making a difference on rural homelessness. The Board of Supervisors declared a shelter crisis last year, setting the stage to purchase a one-acre vacant lot in Point Reyes Station. The Community Land Trust Association of West Marin (CLAM) stepped up to provide housing for over a hundred people of all ages displaced from ranches at the Point Reyes National Seashore or living in several substandard conditions on ranches elsewhere in the area. CLAM secured 11 properties that could be used to house these members of our West Marin communities. One of them is this one-acre property at 6th and B in Point Reyes Station bought by the County and leased to CLAM - the only property of the 11 that was vacant and needed to be developed from the ground up. A mere fifteen months from the shelter crisis declaration this property contains 14 "tiny homes" on wheels and the residents have moved in. They're fully certified 400-square foot units. CLAM developed permanent infrastructure on the site, including a septic system, that will stay in place when permanent homes are built here a few years down the road. The shelter crisis allowed this density and configuration of interim units, and accelerated move-in by eliminating the requirements for planning entitlements or environmental review. One approval this project didn't need because of the shelter crisis was a coastal development permit. While there's a perception that the Coastal Act is a barrier to solutions for vulnerable residents dire housing needs, our experience in Marin working with Coastal Commission staff has been to the contrary. Much gratitude to CLAM, West Marin Community Services, West Marin Fund, Marin Community Foundation, Legal Aid of Marin and all the donors and supporters who made this possible. And thanks to County Executive Derek Johnson, our Board of Supervisors Mary Sackett, Brian Colbert, Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Dennis Rodoni, and Eric Lucan for unflagging support and courage. And gratitude also to two outstanding groups of people: our County of Marin staff who engaged with such dedication to work swiftly and creatively in the face of huge need, and the residents of these homes whose persistence, courage and voice were at the root of all of this. As Supervisor Rodoni said at this event: "This is the best of government." #westmarin #affordablehousing #displacement #sheltercrisis #marin https://lnkd.in/g_2fEppq
New temporary housing unveiled for displaced workers at Point Reyes National Seashore
https://www.youtube.com/
-
Legal Aid of Marin is proud to be a member of Call Marin Home, a coalition working to address Marin’s housing crisis through advocacy, housing development, legal services, and community partnership. Learn more at https://callmarinhome.org/ #CallMarinHome #HousingJustice #MarinCounty #LegalAidOfMarin
-
-
Our Director of Policy, Lucie Hollingsworth, wrote about Novato’s new tenant protection ordinance and what it could mean for renters across Marin. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/g-5PRdhk
-
Yesterday, our Staff were invited to a retreat at the home of one of LAM’s allies - Annie O'Connor. Annie is a visionary leader whose work is singularly focused on creating affordable housing. Annie and her dog Nori welcomed us with open arms into their beautiful home and treated us to wildflower mandala making, lunch, and a walk by the ocean. Thank you so much to Annie and Bolinas Community Land Trust for seeing and honoring Legal Aid of Marin’s work and giving us this immeasurable gift of a retreat in beautiful West Marin. We are grateful!
-
-
-
-
-
+4
-
-
Save the date for Legal Aid of Marin’s 13th Annual Jam for Justice. Join us on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Dominican University in San Rafael for an evening in support of our mission to create an equitable Marin through legal representation, advocacy, and education. Learn more about the event, purchase tickets, and explore sponsorship opportunities: https://lnkd.in/gHMKgR6g
-
-
Our first quarterly newsletter is out. It shares a few updates from the start of the year, including our partnership with Ritter Center, work on the new Immigration Legal Services program, and recent efforts supporting tenants and workers in Marin. Take a look if you have a moment: https://lnkd.in/g6uMCJkH
-
What did California's legislature actually accomplish for housing in 2025? Lucie Hollingsworth cuts through the noise — covering everything from streamlined infill approvals to the bill that finally requires landlords to provide a working fridge. Check out Call Marin Home's latest Perspective newsletter to see what changed and what it means for Marin. https://lnkd.in/gpqXDz2Y
