Stretch of road near SF’s Highway 101 now home to low-income locals priced out of the housing market

05/15/2023 / By Kevin Hughes

Hundreds of locals priced out of the housing market now call a stretch of road near San Francisco’s Highway 101 their home. They’re living in RVs and trailers instead of homes with picket fences.

Shocking photos and footage taken by the Daily Mail revealed that Binford Road in California’s Marin County now sees an increasing line of trucks and other vehicles. The line, which covers two miles of road, is now one of the biggest encampments in the nation. While Binford Road has about 80 permanent residents, the number of people living in their cars along the stretch has risen to no less than 135.

The photos and footage showed families living in tents and using portable barbecue grills as their belongings scatter out of the RVs and trucks. Some seem to have utilized flags to mark the section of road that they use for their home, with several pulling tarpaulins over their cars to protect their possessions.

An average home in Marin County costs $1.4 million. The average family income there is $131,000, leaving those who are earning less with nowhere to turn. The number of residents living in their cars ballooned during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Related: Millions of Americans pushed out of the housing market as prices soar.)

“Historically in Marin [County], it has been tough to sleep safely in vehicles or campsites outside,” said Marin County Downtown Streets Division Director Zoe Niel. She told the San Francisco Chronicle: “Binford is one of the only places that folks can go. But it’s not like it’s a safe haven.”

Over 116,000 homeless people sleeping on streets across California

The Binford situation is not an isolated case in California. The state has over 116,000 people sleeping on its streets, which is the most in the United States. It’s not exactly surprising as California has one of the most expensive housing markets across the country.

Meanwhile, residents of the city of Novato are calling for the line along Binford Road to end. They are working together to help the road’s homeless occupants get the assistance they need.

Every month, homeless individuals at Binford get free groceries, support with their housing case management, medical assistance and many more. Local organizations are also on hand at the Binford encampment to assist with social and medical issues. Hypertension, diabetes and mental health problems are the main hurdles faced by most homeless people there. Some are still good enough to work full time.

These services may be expanded after state funding was awarded to the cities of Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael, as well as to Marin County, for unincorporated areas like Binford Road. Each city, and Marin County, received $500,000 to address their encampment issues.

Marin County’s Whole Person Care/Homelessness Division Director Gary Naja-Riese said their “first and immediate priority is Binford.” He added that the county is also looking for an additional $1.5 million in state funding that would enable it to enlist two more outreach staffers, and a housing-based case manager at Binford.

Follow HomelessAgenda.com for more about homelessness in America.

Watch Mary Theroux of the Independent Institute discuss the homelessness issue in San Francisco below.

This video is from the Tommy’s Podcast channel on Brighteon.com.