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in the program. Mr. Guel also discussed program enrollments, work done with the Housing Specialist, and the difficulties in trying to find housing in Pleasanton. Commissioner Galvin discussed with Mr. Guel the number of people housed and participants in other aspects of the program. Commissioner Kizilolgu questioned the amount of funds allocated for rents in Pleasanton. Mr. Guel advised that it is $16,000 for a full year and HUD guidelines are used for rent. Commissioner Kizilolgu provided information on what she has done with families she has assisted. She commented on the need to subsidize people and thought Abode needed to rework their program for people to be able to stay in their homes. Mr. Hernandez provided information about federal HOME funds and the strings and caps that apply and not being able to pay rents for a whole year. He also noted that the Rapid Rehousing Program provides self-sufficiency for 12-months. Mr. Guel informed Commissioner Kizilolgu that Abode performs assessments every three months, so they assess a family's income and job skills. They are trying to help people become self-sufficient. He provided additional information about how the program works and how they work with people and try to find other resources if Rapid Re-housing is not going to work. Abode Services / HOPE Outreach, Rachel Cole-Jansen — provided information on why this program did not use all funds allocated for the previous year. She provided details on the difficulty of getting willing individuals to be field staff but are now fully staffed and able to be out on the field. Commissioner Kizilolgu asked about the number of people being helped and the number of homeless in the city of Pleasanton. Ms. Cole-Jansen advised there are approximately 20-30 homeless in any given months and three individuals have been enrolled with housing navigation. She discussed with Commissioner Kizilolgu the difficulties of finding affordable housing in Pleasanton and finding landlords that are willing to accept subsidies. Ms. Cole- Jansen indicated she would like to see additional housing for these individuals and if there are no units it would be hard to bring the number of homeless to zero. Commissioner Kizilolgu discussed the possibility of the City of Pleasanton co-signing for rents. Mr. Hernandez advised that the City of Pleasanton does not have a Master Lease Program with Abode and the city has not been approached to do such. Chairperson Soby closed the meeting for agency presentations and opened it for public comment at 8:20 p.m. Sean Sowell — advised he has been homeless since August 2000 and provided information about his circumstances, his work with Open Heart Kitchen, and his enrollment in the Rapid Re- Housing Program that he believes doesn't work in the City of Pleasanton because no landlord in Pleasanton has accepted a subsidy. He informed the Commission that with the Rapid Re- Housing Program he not only has to sell himself but also the program and overcome the strings attached with federal money. He felt Abode was trying, but the source of income for rent shouldn't be a factor, and City of Pleasanton policies and landlords are not interested in bringing in people with problems. Mr. Sowell felt it was a burden to put selling the program and themselves on people trying to find places to rent and asked the Commission to consider the number of Pleasanton families that were served through the Re-housing program. He wondered whether a report has been Housing Commission March 15, 2018 Page 4