6/14/2025 – Welcoming Event – Marin County

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HOME 1 is where Shane lives, he was referred to us by  Marin Housing Authority. He grew up in  Marin County, and is thrilled to have a place to live back in his hometown. He is a musician and songwriter. He played in rock bands throughout the 80’s traveling all over the country and Europe. He hit some hard times, and spent the last 6 years in the streets. He said that the bed Welcoming Home delivered to his apartment allowed him to sleep in a bed for the first time in 6 years. Once he settles into his home, he is hoping to get back into writing and playing music. On our first visit, Shane played our 2 volunteers a song on his guitar that he wrote. It was very touching.

Leyla has just moved into HOME 2. She was referred to us by Downtown Streets Team who helped her get out of a terrible situation and find this apartment in conjunction with Marin Housing Authority. Leyla grew up here, graduating high school and went on to get her associates degree from college. She married her high school sweetheart and they had two daughters. At the age of 28 she was diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease. The disease has attacked her body resulting in several surgeries and years of intense pain. Unfortunately she and her husband grew apart and later divorced. After becoming an empty nester she reconnected with an old acquaintance and they eventually moved into an apartment together. Very quickly things deteriorated and he became abusive and violent. The police were called on several occasions and the last time she barely survived. She spent some time in hospital and unable to go back to this situation she slept in her car and stayed with family. She applied to social services and Downtown Streets were incredibly helpful. Rosebay Behavioral Health have also been very supportive and actually went with her to retrieve her personal items from the apartment while her ex partner was at work. She says she is truly grateful to them for giving her the strength to get out of the nightmare. All her belongings are in trash bags but safely in her new apartment. She feels a sense of peace now with her little dog, her constant companion, which she hasn’t felt for a long time. We are excited to furnish and create a comfortable home where her daughters and family can now come and visit and see how well she is doing.

Amy is a lovely single mother who has worked diligently to provide a safe space that she and her 15 year old daughter can call home. They live in HOME 3. At the age of 15 she became pregnant with her first and only child. Determined to finish high school, Amy earned her high School Diploma while  caring for her very young child and receiving support from her parents. Sadly, within a few years Amy’s parents were unable to continue their assistance. From there, Amy was on her own and her very long road of achieving stability had begun. With a young child to care for, making ends meet had become overwhelming for Amy and the state of becoming homeless was a very real fear. Thankfully, through the good works of The Brown House and more recently Homeward Bound of Marin, a safe shelter was provided as well as assistance in finding steady employment. As a trained driver for Marin Access, Amy now assists seniors with their crucial transportation needs that they would otherwise be unable to obtain. As Amy puts it, “Her job is very important to her and she really values the relationships that she has formed with her regular riders”. Additionally, after many weeks on a waiting list, Homeward Bound has also assisted Amy in finding her very first apartment to live in. While she and her daughter are grateful and excited to make the move from the Homeward Bound shelter to their new home, their possessions are quite few. To this end, Welcoming Home is honored to assist Amy and Katie as they transition into their long awaited living space.

David lives in HOME 4 and he was referred to us by Community Action Marin. He rew up on the East Coast, when he was offered a job opportunity in California, he saw it as the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Unfortunately, the move took a dark turn when his living situation became one of abuse. Despite the hardships, David showed remarkable strength and resilience. He is now safe and rebuilding his life with hope and determination. David has a passion for cooking and enjoys soaking up the California sunshine. Having a place of his own motivates him to keep moving forward — a space where he can finally feel secure, rest, and simply be himself. With the support of Welcoming Home, that dream is becoming a reality. Soon, he will have a comfortable home where he can relax and continue healing. His case manager shared, “What truly stands out about David is his perseverance, self-advocacy, and unwavering motivation to thrive. Through collaboration with partnering agencies in Marin County — including your incredible organization — we’ve been able to support David on his journey to stability and growth.”