Live Local Marin honored five organizations and two individuals during an awards night May 15 for their accomplishments and resilience in supporting and developing affordable places for people to live in Marin County.
The award winners were: Stand Up for Neighborly Novato, Community Land Trust of West Marin, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, Tabitha Hurt, San Clemente Place by EAH Housing, and League of Women Voters Transportation, Land Use & Housing Committee.
“The housing battles in Marin have been long and often hostile,” said Dianne Spaulding, Executive Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH), which co-coordinates Live Local Marin with Greenbelt Alliance. “Between them, the awardees have decades of experience in making sure Marin has more housing options for all income levels, and they have the battle scars to prove it.
Mary Jane Burke, Superintendent of Schools, Marin County, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to the League of Women Voters.
Burke said, "The League of Women Voters has been steadfast in their support and understand how vital affordable housing is to the community."
Philip Kilbridge, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, accepted the Dream Maker Award on behalf of the organization. Kilbridge said, "For us the dream making comes when the family moves into their new home. We are dedicated to enabling families to to be able to live and work in the community."
Tabitha Hurt was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award by Mary Kay Sweeney, PhD, Executive Director of Homeward Bound of Marin.
Hurt said, "The Fireside and Homeward Bound gave us hope, home and a future. I am grateful for my home and my experience has inspired me to continue the fight for more affordable housing in Marin."
