A Collaborative Approach to Ending Homelessness in Marin

In 2017 Marin County, CA had the seventh highest rate of per capita homelessness in the entire country. However, from 2017 to 2019, Marin reduced overall homelessness by 7%, chronic homelessness by 28%, and San Rafael, Marin’s largest city, witnessed a 30% reduction in unsheltered homelessness. No one could have expected what happened next. A global pandemic. New federal legal rulings around homelessness. The rise of encampments. Come learn about all things homelessness in Marin County.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Andrew Hening moved to San Jose, California in the summer of 2010 through AmeriCorps VISTA for a year of service as the Project Homeless Connect Coordinator for Santa Clara County. Following that role, he took a position with Downtown Streets Team (DST), a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit that provides volunteer work experience opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.   In July of 2013, Andrew launched DST's first team outside of Santa Clara County in San Rafael. In March of 2016, Andrew became the City of San Rafael’s Director of Homeless Planning & Outreach, where he has worked with an amazing team of local partners to envision, develop, and implement the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), Coordinated Entry, the Marin Mobile Care mobile shower program, and Opening Doors Marin, a countywide housing collaborative.  As of June 30^th, 2021, Andrew has left his role with the City of San Rafael and is now leading Opening Doors.

Andrew lives in Richmond, CA with his wife and daughter.  Andrew has a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA for UC Berkeley. He is also an avid backpacker, having completed the John Muir Trail and parts of the the Yosemite High Route.