Marin City and Beyond: American Housing Justice Act
Turn your rent into ownership. This law creates a path to homeownership for people who have paid rent on time for years. Your rent payments build equity toward owning your home. Starting in Marin City, California, this program protects tenants from being pushed out and helps families build real wealth through homeownership. Not a handout — earned opportunity.
🎯 What This Act Does
Creating pathways to homeownership for working families
Rent Becomes Ownership
15-30% of each on-time rent payment becomes a credit toward buying your home. Pay rent for 15 years or less and own your home. Your payments finally build something for your family.
Protected From Displacement
No one gets pushed out. If repairs are needed, you get free temporary housing and the right to return. Landlords can't raise rent or kick you out for joining the program.
Community Land Trusts
Homes are owned by community groups that keep them affordable forever — not for 5 or 10 years, but for 99 years or more. Your neighborhood stays affordable for your kids and grandkids.
💰 How Rent-to-Ownership Works
Your rent payments become credits toward owning your home
Benchmark Home Value
The price you need to hit is based on what the government paid for the building, minus any other help it received, plus repair costs. Then that's divided by the number of units. Fair and clear.
Credit for Every Payment
15-30% of each on-time rent payment becomes a credit toward your home price. Lower income families get a higher credit rate. In 15 years or less, you can own 100% of your home.
Quarterly Statements
Every three months you get a statement showing: your home's target price, how much credit you've built, how much is left, and when you'll be done. No surprises.
Multiple Ownership Types
Own your home outright, join a limited-equity cooperative, or get a long-term lease with full equity rights through a community land trust. Different options for different needs.
Portable Credits
If you move to another home in the same program area, your credits come with you. You don't lose what you've earned if you need to move.
Pass It Down
When you own your home, you can leave it to your children. They get at least 12 months to decide if they want to keep it. Build wealth for the next generation.
🛡️ Strong Tenant Protections
Your rights are protected every step of the way
No Forced Moves
No one can make you leave your home. If repairs are needed, you get free temporary housing and the right to come back to your unit or a similar one.
Keep Your Section 8
If you have a housing voucher, you keep it throughout the process. You can use voucher money toward your ownership payments. When you're done, your voucher goes to help another family.
No Retaliation
Landlords can't evict you, threaten you, or raise your rent just because you joined the program. If they try, you can sue for damages and get your lawyer fees paid.
If you need to move temporarily for repairs, you get free comparable housing, moving assistance, and the right to return at an affordable rent.
🤝 Hardship Protection — Life Happens
If you hit hard times, you don't lose what you've built
Job Loss Protection
Lost your job or had your hours cut by 20% or more? You can get lower payments for up to 12 months. Your ownership timeline extends without penalty. When you're back on your feet, you continue where you left off.
Serious illness, injury, or disability in your family? You can get lower or paused payments for up to 18 months. Your ownership timeline extends. The program connects you with other help too.
If a natural disaster is declared, you get hardship relief just like with other federal disaster programs. Fires, floods, earthquakes — you're covered.
No matter what hardship you face, you never lose the credits you've already built. They stay with you as long as you follow the hardship rules. Up to 36 months total hardship time allowed.
👷 Who This Helps
Working families and essential workers who keep our communities running
If you're in Section 8 or public housing, you get priority for the program. You can use your voucher toward ownership payments. When you finish, your voucher helps another family get housing.
Priority AccessFamilies at or below 50% of area median income get priority and higher credit rates. If you make 80% or less of area median income, you qualify. Essential workers finally have a path to ownership.
Higher Credit RatePeople on Supplemental Security Income can voluntarily put up to $50/month toward extra ownership credits. The government may match your contribution dollar-for-dollar. It doesn't affect your SSI benefits.
Optional MatchingMarin City was built for Black shipyard workers who were shut out of homeownership programs. This law recognizes that history and creates real opportunity for families whose communities were left behind.
Righting WrongsKeeping homes affordable forever, run by the community