Nearly 14 years ago, leaders from four Marin congregations got together in order to address the problem of homelessness in Marin County. Representatives from the Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, and Jewish traditions worked together to discern their approach. A chaplain on the streets, they decided, was a much needed service in the county, and with the financial assistance of the Marin Community Foundation, the Marin Interfaith Homeless Chaplaincy (MIHC) was founded.

At the heart of MIHC is its mission to "be a compassionate spiritual presence on the streets of Marin County." The Chaplaincy continues to live into this mission by employing a Chaplain and a Chaplain Assistant to be present throughout the week in local social service organizations and on the streets of downtown San Rafael.

In the summer of 2002, MIHC acquired a space large enough to accommodate a sanctuary, counseling rooms, art and music studios. For two years, this space was a center for the channelling of creative energy as well as a place where wanderers could seek refuge, quiet, and peace.

Faced with leadership and financial problems, the Chaplaincy had to give up the majority of its space. It just so happened that Marin Jobs and Career Services was looking for a larger space to house its growing program. This led to a relationship with Community Action Marin (CAM), the current host organization of MIHC. For the next two years, CAM has pledged its support and expertise in order to help rebuild and revitalize the Chaplaincy.

As a part of this rebuilding, The Chaplaincy has moved its office to the offices of the San Rafael St. Vincent DePaul Dining Room at 822 B Street. This move grants the chaplain a central and convenient location and allows greater collaboration with the great work of the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

In this time of regrowth, the MIHC has scaled back its art, music, and poetry programming in order to refocus on the original mission of the organization. Constantly seeking ways to connect communities, the Chaplaincy is hopeful that artists, poets, and musicians from the community-at-large will recognize the talents which are hidden in the community of the street. MIHC encourages these artists to step forward and lend their support to help re-establish a successful working artist program. Contact the Chaplaincy for more information.