Hundreds of local residents in one of San Francisco’s wealthiest counties have been forced to live their lives in RVs and trailers after being forced off the housing market.
Shocking photos show the ever-growing line of trucks and other vehicles along 101 Highway – now stretching two miles in one of the country’s largest encampments.
Cities in Marin County, where homes cost an average of $1.4 million, are pushing for the line along the highway to be terminated after the number of residents living in their cars skyrocketed during the pandemic.
Photos and videos taken by DailyMail.com show families living in tents and using portable grills as their belongings move out of the RVs and trucks.
Some seem to have used flags to mark the section of road they use in front of their homes, and many draw tarpaulin over their cars to protect their belongings.
Shocking photos show the ever-growing line of trucks and other vehicles along 101 Highway — now stretching two miles in one of the nation’s largest encampments
Photos taken by DailyMail.com show families living in tents and using portable barbecues as their belongings pour out of the RVs and trucks
Officials say there are at least 135 vehicles lined up along Binford Road, on the outskirts of Novato, as the number of cars has expanded.
The median household income in the county is $131,000, leaving people on lower incomes with nowhere to go.
Residents of the area are now gathering to try to end the encampment by helping people find services they need.
Every month they receive free groceries, help with their housing file, medical assistance and much more.
Expansion of services will be pushed for after state funding is awarded to Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael and to Marin County for unincorporated areas such as Binford Road.
Each city, and Marin County, received $500,000 to address their camp issues — with the county contributing $1 million in resources to help each of the regions.
Low-income residents in Marin County say they have nowhere to go as the cost of living grips the region.
Gary Naja-Riese, director of homelessness for Marin County, said Binford is their “first and immediate priority.”
Stretching over three kilometers, the number of vehicles exploded during the pandemic and has continued to grow
Many have installed solar panels on top of their vehicles to run electricity and cook in the RVs
Officials say there are at least 135 vehicles lined up along Binford Road, on the outskirts of Novato, as the number of cars has expanded
Residents of the area are now gathering to try to end the encampment by helping people find services they need
Local organizations are ready to help with social and medical issues, with the camp mainly dealing with hypertension, diabetes and mental health issues
Local organizations are ready to help with social and medical issues, with the camp mainly dealing with hypertension, diabetes and mental health issues
Some officials have pushed for a nighttime parking ban, which has not been implemented
They also plan to employ a full-time social worker to directly support the camp residents with their problems.
The county estimates there are about 80 permanent residents in Binford, with others leaving their vehicles on the side of the road.
Local organizations are on hand to help with social and medical issues, with the camp mainly dealing with hypertension, diabetes and mental health issues.
But some are good enough to work full time – although no one can afford a home in the county with sky-high costs.
Other California cities enforced bans on RVs in 2016, with many coming to blows when residents refused to move.
Officials have speculated that because the Binford Road encampment receives support, it has a reputation as one of the last remaining areas where people sleeping in their cars are not harassed by law enforcement.
Every month they receive free groceries, help with their housing file, medical assistance and much more
Each city and Marin County received $500,000 to address their camp issues – with the county contributing $1 million in resources to help each of the regions
Some appear to have used flags to mark the section of road they use in front of their homes, and many draw tarpaulin over their cars to protect their belongings
Some are well enough to work full time, though no one can afford housing in the county with sky-high costs
Zoe Neil, director of Marin County’s Downtown Streets Division, told the San Francisco Chronicle, “Historically, in Marin, it was difficult to sleep safely in vehicles or outdoor campgrounds.
“Binford is one of the few places people can go. But it’s not like it’s a safe haven.’
However, some officials have pushed for a nighttime parking ban, which has not been implemented.
The county is also seeking an additional $1.5 million in state funding that would allow it to hire two additional outreach workers and a housing case manager who would work full-time at Binford.
On average, the county houses an average of a dozen people per month in Marin County, primarily through landlord affiliate programs with Marin Housing Authority.
About 78 percent of the area’s homeless had homes in Marin County before moving out.