Spring 2025 Roots and Roofs Newsletter
Protecting the Heart of the San Geronimo and Nicasio Valleys
The Valleys We Love Are at Risk---and It Impacts All of Us
The San Geronimo Valley and Nicasio Valley are more than just great places to live—they are communities built on shared values, deep roots, and neighborly connections. But the escalating cost of housing is making it increasingly difficult for many residents—young families, essential workers, seniors, and those who grew up here—to stay in the place they call home.
The Two Valleys Community Land Trust is dedicated to changing that. We are creating and preserving permanently affordable housing in our Valleys to ensure our communities remain vibrant, accessible, and inclusive. But affordable housing doesn’t just benefit those who live in it—it benefits all of us. Indeed, supporting affordable housing is a smart and necessary investment in the future of our shared community.
Traffic Is Getting Worse—Affordable Housing Can Help
When people who work in our community can’t afford to live here, they’re forced to commute long distances from more affordable areas. These daily commutes add to the already heavy traffic congestion we experience in Fairfax and San Anselmo, especially back-ups at the Hub.
Every time a local worker drives from the Canal, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, or Vallejo to serve families here, it contributes to clogged roads, longer commute times, more emissions—and a lower quality of life for all of us. Affordable housing in the San Geronimo and Nicasio Valleys helps reduce these long commutes and the traffic headaches they cause.
We Need Local Workers—But They Can’t Afford to Stay
Many of the services we depend on every day are provided by people who can no longer afford to live here: childcare providers, teachers and school staff, gardeners and landscapers, house cleaners, senior caregivers, contractors, and repair persons. Without affordable housing, fewer of these essential workers will be available. We’re already seeing a shortage of people willing or able to travel long distances for work. As this trend continues, it will become harder to hire the help we need, it will cost us more as these workers commute longer distances, and our schools, families, and older residents will suffer. Affordable housing allows these vital members of our community to live locally and be part of the fabric of our daily lives.
We Risk Becoming a Community for the Wealthy Only
If current trends continue, our community will become increasingly exclusive—affordable only for the wealthy--- as is already happening in Stinson Beach. When young families, local workers, and seniors are priced out, we lose more than neighbors. We lose the people who coach our Little League teams, care for our children and elders, volunteer at the food bank, and show up for community events. Affordable housing ensures that people from different income levels, generations, and backgrounds can live together and support one another. That diversity is what has always made our Valleys feel like home.
We Need You!
Affordable housing is not just about shelter—it’s about sustaining a way of life. It's about keeping our schools open, our roads less congested, and our neighborhoods filled with people who care. It's about preserving the soul of the San Geronimo and Nicasio Valleys. TVCLT is committed to building a future where housing is available for everyone—not just the few who can afford today’s prices. We invite you to support this work so that our Valleys remain places where people can live, work, and grow together.
Be Part of the Solution—Support TVCLT Today
Join the Two Valleys Community Land Trust and be a part of something bigger!
By becoming a member, you help create a healthier, more vibrant community in the San Geronimo Valley and in Nicasio. Your support ensures that the people who work here—our teachers, service providers, and local employees—can afford to live here. Together, we strengthen neighborhoods, foster stability, and build a future where everyone has a place to call home.
You are invited to become a member of the TVCLT!
Be a foundation for change. Support the mission of the TVCLT and help ensure stable, affordable housing in our community for our seniors, for our workforce, and for all of us. Your membership strengthens neighborhoods and fosters a healthier, more inclusive community.
Annual Membership is $35 and provides you with the following membership benefits:
Receive the TVCLT “Roots and Roofs” newsletter four times per year.
Receive a yard sign and/or window sticker to proudly announce your membership: “Two Valleys Community Land Trust: Sustaining Community through Affordable Housing”
Receive a thank you promotion from Giaco’s Roadhouse.
Invitation to our annual appreciation event for members and donors.
Invitation to our annual meeting.
Your name published on the TVCLT website and in our “Roots and Roofs” newsletter as a TVCLT member who is helping to create a healthier, more vibrant community in the San Geronimo Valley and in Nicasio.
Voting rights to elect the TVCLT Board of Directors, vote on by-law changes, and review the TVCLT Annual Report.
Opportunity to serve as a TVCLT committee member.
You can lead the way in community stewardship and play a key role in guiding the TVCLT’s growth and long-term sustainability.
Join the Two Valleys Community Land Trust now. Help us to sustain community through affordable housing.
As an engaged member, you help shape the future of the TVCLT. Enjoy opportunities to participate in discussions, attend special events, and collaborate on initiatives that preserve affordability and community well-being. For additional ways to support TVCLT, please visit our website.
Hey Folks! In partnership with the Marin Housing Authority’s Below Market Rate Program, TVCLT will be seeking approval from the County of Marin Board of Supervisors on June 10th and from the Board of Commissioners on June 17th. The meetings begin at 9am and to add your voice in support, participate in the Live Meeting or join us in person at the Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 328, in San Rafael