Our Roots and Our Future

In Marin County, the shadows of poverty and homelessness loom large, affecting countless lives with stark realities. Ritter Center stands as a lifeline—providing compassionate care, stability, and dignity to those who need it most. Every day, our dedicated team witnesses the power of community and the life-changing impact of accessible healthcare, housing, and support services.

Our story began in the 1970s when a county-led initiative to support low-income families evolved into a grassroots effort by local congregations and volunteers. In 1980, the Human Concern Center of Marin was born—what would later become Ritter Center. Since then, we’ve grown from offering basic safety net services to delivering integrated care that addresses the root causes of homelessness.

In 2013, we became Marin County’s only Federally Qualified Health Care for the Homeless (FQHC) site, allowing us to serve all individuals—regardless of income or insurance status.

We’ve since expanded our services dramatically:

• In 2015, we launched an intensive outpatient substance use program.
• In 2017, we helped lead the County’s Whole Person Care pilot, housing more than 850 chronically homeless individuals—94% remain stably housed.
• In 2023, we purchased a new building and launched Ritter Builds Hope to renovate 800 A Street and relocate to a new home.
• In 2024, we served over 2,500 people with primary care, mental health support, case management, and more.

Today, with a team of 60 and a strong, mission-driven board, we are building our next chapter: a new, state-of-the-art health and wellness center at 800 A Street in downtown San Rafael coming soon in 2026. This move will allow us to expand services, increase capacity, and deepen our impact.

Thank you for being part of this journey.