Our mission is to ensure equal housing opportunity and to educate the community on the value of diversity in our neighborhoods.

In 2012, we celebrate 30 years of opening doors to equality and diversity. Through three decades, we have protected the rights of thousands of Marin residents to live in the housing of their choice without discrimination. During 2011-12, inquiries rose 28% to 1,295 calls: 243 were housing discrimination complaints, a rise of 33%. We referred 22 to HUD, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, or private attorneys. Our Staff Attorney also issued 25 letters asking reasonable accommodation of tenants� disabilities. We celebrate services available free to all in English and Spanish because 90% of our clients have extremely-low to moderate income levels. During 2011-12, minority individuals and families made up 42% of our clients. Overall, the breakdown of discrimination was as follows: Disability: 56%; National Origin: 12%; Familial Status: 11%; Race: 11%; Gender: 4.5%; Religion: 1%; Source of Income: .5%; Sexual Orientation: 3%; Marital Status: 1%; Age: 2% (some were multiple protected classes). Client ethnicity is: 63% White, 21.5% Latino, 10% African-American, 2.5% Asian, 2% Native American. Overall, our programs served over 4,450 Marin residents. And as Marin County�s only HUD certified counseling agency, we also deal daily with housing foreclosure situations. Our part-time staff has assisted 159 distressed homeowners � many who have lost their jobs causing them to face foreclosure and even eviction. That�s why one family facing foreclosure turned to Fair Housing of Marin for helFair Housing of Marin was awarded $50,000 each year for 3 years to correct housing accessibility problems. In its second year, the Spanos Accessibility Fund helped 28 low-income seniors/individuals make physical changes that they could not afford, but which allowed them to remain in their residences. With 17.5% of Marin�s population over 65-yrs.-old, it is not so sur- prising many of our reasonable modifications requests relate to seniors� disabilities.