SR 06:095 - Laserfiche WebLink

help the daughter keep her job and still ensure her mother's continuing care. Ms. Pazdral noted that the City's funding helps to leverage other funds that help the community. ECHO Housing (Audrev Perrot. Marv Colbert. Cherisse Baptiste) Housing Counseling Services (to include Fair Housing Counseling and Investigation, Tenant/Landlord Counseling, General Home seeking, and Rental Assistance.) Ms. Perrot discussed the range of services they provide. In addition to the services provided under the contract, ECHO also provides mortgage default counseling and first- time homebuyer education to Pleasanton residents. She asked the Housing Commission to support the staff recommendation. Ms. Perrot distributed copies of newsletters and brochures. Commissioner Wiest asked if ECHO coordinates with housing rehabilitation programs when doing its reverse mortgage counseling. Ms. Baptiste stated that as part of their counseling they provide alternatives. If a client comes to them and only wants to do home repair, they will provide referrals and try to help them assess and identify the best options for them. This includes the City's Housing Rehabilitation program. Commissioner Stark asked if their counseling includes information on predatory lenders. Ms. Baptiste responded that HUD regulations require that ECHO remain a neutral party, but they do caution clients to be on guard regarding predatory lending practices. Commissioner Whisnand asked how many people have gone through the program over the last couple of years. Ms. Baptiste stated she did not have the numbers with her but could get them to the Commission. She stated that 40% of the clients who go through the program decide to get second mortgages. Tri-Citv Homeless Coalition / TCHC (Marvbeth McCarthy. Mary Ellen Gallagher) Tri-Valley Housing Scholarship Program (provides case management during the period of temporary rental subsidies for persons who are in living-wage oriented job training programs). Ms. McCarthy discussed the recent merger with Allied Housing. She explained that the Tri-Valley Housing Scholarship Program (TVHSP) is a housing subsidy program to assist clients (many of them women) with housing subsidies and case management services to help them become self-sufficient. She shared a personal experience. She entered Las Positas College as an adult took a class called "College for the Mature Woman." She was well supported by her family and friends, but each week the circle in class got smaller because most ofthe women in the class were single mothers with children who were trying to work, while at the same time coordinating childcare, transportation, and employment in order to have a living wage to support their families. She personally feels lucky to support the TVHSP, which helps to prevent these women who are not on government assistance but will fall through the cracks without this type of Page - 4 -