At their upcoming meeting of February 11, the Novato City Council will consider adopting a resolution to close the Temporary Camp at Lee Gerner Park, following a recent federal court determination that reinforced the expiration of the Settlement Agreement between the City and the Marin County Homeless Union. Discussion will also include plans to restore the park for community recreational use following necessary site cleanup due to significant damage caused by a July 2024 arson fire.  

Since 2022, the City has maintained the Temporary Camp under a court-ordered Settlement Agreement, which expired on October 13, 2024. The Temporary Camp, costing between $13,000-$15,000 per month to operate, provided services such as 17 tent spaces, portable restrooms, weekly mobile showers, outreach services and case management. Direct operating costs have been funded by one-time grants through the County and State. Since the establishment of the Temporary Camp, 24 former campers have been housed through Permanent Supportive Housing or other long-term housing solutions in Marin County.  

Novato remains committed to supporting those experiencing homelessness by strengthening existing partnerships and fostering new collaborations that provide innovative and effective solutions toward stable housing. In March 2025, the City anticipates launching the SAFE (Specialized Assistance For Everyone) program in Novato. Provided by Petaluma People Services Center, and approved by the City Council in November 2024, this initiative utilizes trauma-informed approaches to provide emergency and non-emergency assistance, as well as proactive outreach addressing mental health, addiction and homelessness-related requests for service. 

Ensuring the safety, well-being and quality of life of the entire Novato community while assisting those in need remains a top priority. The City continues to work closely with local service providers that exercise their specialized training and expertise in supporting our unhoused community members. We are grateful for these partnerships, which create a lasting and positive impact on our community.  

The agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting will be posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at novato.org/agendas.

Additional information about homeless outreach in Novato is available at novato.org/homelessness.