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and prevent harassment when current eviction moratoriums are lifted. She commented on the services provided by ECHO that includes counseling and mediation to prevent eviction, effect repairs, and retaliatory actions by landlords, and other tenant-landlord issues. Commissioners were advised by Ms. Rocha that ECHO will be hosting an event at the Pleasanton Library on March 24th to educate tenants and landlords on their rights and responsibilities and provide counseling services attainable for low-income renters who need assistance with fair housing counseling, investigation, and enforcement. She advised that ECHO works with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and partners with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to enforce housing laws and prosecute non-compliant landlords. Chairperson Galvin confirmed with Ms. Rocha details for the Pleasanton Library event. She confirmed the March 24th date and advised it was to be a Zoom meeting set up by the library. Chairperson Galvin noted there was also a Housing Economics and Realities decision-maker training meeting scheduled for March 25th and asked Mr. Hernandez to forward information on both meetings to members of the commission. Ms. Fischer confirmed with Ms. Rocha that what ECHO provides is early onset information on housing issues and when issues escalate, and people need legal assistance the agency provides recommendations. Ms. Rocha agreed noting that counseling is provided to both tenants and landlords so both parties are made aware of the legal rights and if there is an issue between a tenant and landlord they try to mediate to try and avoid escalation, and if matters cannot be resolved through mediation, ECHO will refer people to Centro Legal. Mr. Hernandez confirmed for Commissioner Fischer that agencies had been informed that the commission was looking for more quantitative details. Ms. Rocha noted that ECHO averaged approximately two hours per client, noting more or less time needed for simple counseling, but tenant/landlord mediations can require three hours and rental assistance about five hours. Chairperson Galvin asked about ECHO's office location, and Mr. Hernandez advised their closest office was in Livermore. CRIL— Housing & Independent Living Services— Michael Galvan Mr. Galvan thanked the commission for their continued support of CRIL and advised that they provide housing and independent living services for people with disabilities and senior citizens with functional limitations. He noted that CRIL is not focused on finding somebody a place to live but helping somebody learn how to live independently, such as someone transitioning from a skilled nursing home or a young adult transitioning from their parent's home. Commissioners were informed by Mr. Galvan that CRIL assists clients by helping them learn how to move into a place and how to pay their bills and anything else needed to become independent. He noted that 30% of their clients are homeless individuals who need help in learning how to find housing and access benefits. The purpose of CRIL is not to do everything for clients but to teach them how to do and navigate through information and details. In response to Mr. Hernandez' question on providing quantitative information, Mr. Galvan advised that sometimes it can be a process of spending 15-20 hours over a couple of years helping people become truly independent. Chairperson Galvin asked about volunteer help, and Mr. Galvan advised that due to the pandemic volunteers have been off-site. He also noted that CRIL consults with several hospitals who provided a matrix on affordable housing through the central valley. Commissioners were informed by Mr. Galvan that CRIL's current staff are located in their Fremont and Hayward offices and invited members of the commission to visit, and the Livermore location is still under construction but should be opened soon. Housing Commission March 17,2022 Page 3 of 10