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a recommendation for funding as requested. He said the Salvation Army took over this operation last July, and previous concerns with this Shelter had been addressed by the Salvation Army since then. Envoy McKinney thanked Housing Coordinator Jones- Thomas for working with his representative in a truly collaborative effort, to address needs crossing geographic boundaries and involving 19 agencies. He provided statistics showing the success of their efforts in transitioning people from homelessness to permanent housing, and how they had contracted to assist 17 Redwood City people and in fact assisted 53 in various ways. Envoy McKinney said the Salvation Army had also housed 204 Redwood City residents during the recent floods with no cost to the City. He said funding for the Shelter belonged in CDBG funding programs, but said he was appreciative of any help the Council could give. Cheryl Zando, new Executive Director at Youth and Family Assistance, thanked the HHCC and staff for their excellent efforts. She described the unique services provided by Youth and Family Assistance to residents of Redwood City including Daybreak Shelter for homeless youth, Your House South for runaways and at risk youth, and a Crisis Intervention and education program. Ms. Zando said Youth and Family Assistance had been providing assistance to Redwood City youth for over 20 years and appreciated the support they received from Redwood City. Cassandra Benjamin, Executive Director of Shelter Network and operator of Redwood Family House on Locust, thanked the HHCC for their hard work and the recommendation of $31,800. Ms. Benjamin said, "We serve more people from Redwood City, more homeless families and individuals, than from any other city in San Mateo County. Last year we served 135 homeless... providing them with transitional housing services to help them break the cycle of homelessness." She said they have a 75% success rate and last year I 00% of the families in the homeless program did not become homeless again. Ms. Benjamin said in 1990 when the City asked Shelter Network to operate the homeless program in Redwood City, "there was a collaborative agreement signed to discuss future funding. I appreciate the recommendations here tonight, but I hope that. .. we could come back to that agreement and look at our funding relationship." Vice Mayor Ruskin said he agreed with Ms. Benjamin that "based on that initial agreement with the City several years ago and the discussions we have had at Council relating to that agreement, I feel strongly that Council needs to meet and to decide formally on how we wi11look at that agreement this year and in coming years. I for one feel that we have a binding agreement... to support Shelter Network." Vice Mayor Ruskin said the Council had discussed forming a subcommittee to work this issue through, and he asked that this subject come back to Council for resolution. MEMO 5/12/98 Council Member Claire said he agreed 100% with Vice Mayor Ruskin and he would make recommendations later during discussion of the HSF A program. He said CDBG funds were limited and restricted and the HHCC did what it could given the limitations under the law and the limited funds available. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MAY 11, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 460 PAGEl]