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Bridgette Ohms said she is a mother of a daughter and when she finished a nine-year prison sentence, she was referred to Spring Street Shelter. She said that the Shelter made her life better; she is now clean and sober, and reunited with her daughter. She noted that without this assistance that included food and shelter, she would have been likely to end up back in prison at a cost that is a hundred times higher than the shelter. Sharron Navarro, on behalf of Star Vista Day Break, said they serve similar clients, and she is honored by the bravery of previous speakers, and thanked the City Council for their years of support for runaway youth. They help youth, ages 16 to 21 that are unaccompanied without family, and they are proud that they are funded locally by the City and with most of their clients achieving excellent outcomes with 80 percent staying in school and 80 percent of their clients with a high school degree obtain employment. Melissa Platte, on behalf of the Mental Health Association and the Spring Street Shelter, said she is privileged to work with people at the Shelter and in their other programs. She expressed thanks to City Council because of the importance of the work being done helping people in various ways, and also noted that they are really funding hope and she hopes people can see how much every dollar means to our community. Porscha Moore said that she is a military veteran and became homeless due to undesirable credit. She was referred to InnVision Shelter Network to stay for several months until they got their home and she and her husband continue to attend the programs as alumni. She spoke in support of Redwood Family House's program to help sharpen their skills and knowledge as well as helping them save money and never going hungry. Sharon Peterson, Director of Operations with Samaritan House, said they have been running the Safe Harbor Shelter for 28 years and that the number of homeless people in the County has continued to go up. She shared statistical data on how they serve about 400 people per year, with just over 10 percent of them coming from Redwood City and they still have to turn people away because they do not have enough beds. She thanked Council for its continued support over the years. Barbara Liedtke, representing HIP (Human Investment Project) Housing, said there is a lack of housing because not enough is being built. She said HIP Housing works to help people have a place to call home. She provided details on one particular client who benefitted from their program and was able to pass with dignity. Barbara Voldman spoke about how much HIP (Human Investment Project) Housing means to her for the good work they are doing in this time of budget cuts. She related how she came out of a homeless center and was given a safe place to stay, a job, a future and hope, and that she was well treated. Seana OShaughnessy, representing Rebuilding Together Peninsula, referred to an email she sent earlier to Council inviting people to be part of National Rebuilding Day this Saturday, and she noted that the City has been a long-time supporter. She said National Rebuilding Day is a public-private partnership that allows people to age in CITY COUNCIL April 22, 2013 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 8 MINUTE BOOK NO. 64 Page No. 334