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Chairperson Soby opened the meeting for agency presentations. <br />ECHO Housing Counseling Services— Marjorie Rocha —reaffirmed the mission of the ECHO <br />Housing organization and the support services they provide which aids in the prevention of <br />homelessness. She discussed the programs the agency provides and the services that are <br />provided through their programs. Ms. Rocha commented on the importance of providing <br />education to clients, partnering with other organizations, providing home -seeking services, <br />counseling, and placement services. <br />Commissioner Kiziloglu indicated that she had been distraught at the February meeting to learn <br />from Ms. Rocha that three people had lost their homes, stating that she felt that in order to have <br />effective programs ECHO needed to help people keep their homes and not become evicted. <br />Ms. Rocha felt Commissioner Kiziloglu had a misunderstanding of all the services ECHO <br />provides in Pleasanton indicating that the agency cannot stop landlords from evicting people. <br />She advised that ECHO does not make policies but provides tools to help people and is able to <br />intervene in difficult situations, and also noted that ECHO provides fair housing services for the <br />City of Pleasanton. <br />Commissioner Welsh asked Ms. Rocha about programs provided by ECHO to other cities to <br />help slow down problems. Ms. Rocha advised that ECHO acts as administrators for other cities <br />in a variety of areas and people come to ECHO for assistance with rent increase complaints and <br />just cause eviction issues. She commented on Ordinances that have been put in place. <br />Commissioner Welsh requested that Ms. Rocha provide the City of Pleasanton with information <br />about the administrative services and ordinances in place with other cities so the Commission <br />could review them. <br />Commissioner Kiziloglu questioned what gives Ms. Rocha and ECHO leverage if they are not <br />legal professionals. <br />Commissioner Galvin asked about information for the City of Pleasanton website that will help <br />people with rent and eviction issues. <br />Abode Services, Rosa Elaine Garcia — Ms. Garcia advised Commissioners that Mr. Guel would <br />be leaving Abode Services and she would be taking over his duties in the area. <br />Commissioner Welsh asked about the agency's funding requests for staffing. Mr. Hernandez <br />provided information about carry-over funds from the previous year and no funding being <br />provided for 2018/19. Commissioner Welsh questioned about funding Abode had spent in <br />2018/19 and commented on a disgruntled individual that had presented to this Commission and <br />referenced this program. Mr. Hernandez provided details about the services Abode provides for <br />rents. <br />Commissioner Kiziloglu discussed a conversation she's had with a Livermore individual and the <br />lack of response from Abode that they had experienced. She questioned the services provided <br />by Abode and wondered why people were not being put into Coordinated Entry by Abode. Ms. <br />Garcia advised that people do receive assessments and are put into Coordinated Entry housing <br />if there are openings. She indicated that she would like to know who Commissioner Kiziloglu <br />had conversed with so she can learn first-hand about the issue and provide help. Ms. Garcia <br />advised that Alameda County is still not completely integrated into the Coordinated Entry <br />program and provided Commissioner Kiziloglu with details about the program process for <br />people needing to be assessed. <br />Page - 3 - <br />