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B. Housing and Human Concems Committee recommendations regarding the Human Services Financial Assistance (HSFA) Program for 1997/98; (505, 209) REPORT: Parks, Recreation and Community Services Manager Magda Gonzalez Housing and Human Concerns Committee Chairman Bain presented the staff report and thanked the Council for understanding how difficult it was to make the needed decisions and recommendations. He described the Committee's recommendations amounting to $182,500 leaving $25,580 unallocated. Chairman Bain described why the Committee did not recommend funding for several agencies, including some that were funded in the past, including: Emergency Hunger Fund, inadequate application, especially the required budget form; Bethsaida Family Living Home, weak application; Private Industry Council Summer Jobs for Youth Program, many reasons including no eligibility requirements; San Mateo County Barrio Unidos, hadn't collaborated with other agencies providing similar services (as PAL had to do when it first applied); and TEWCI, with a recommendation of $25,000 ($5,000 less than last year) based on its lack of outside fund raising. In response to Council questions, Chairman Bain described the specific problems with the application from the Emergency Hunger Fund rendering it unacceptable. Chairman Bain advised that the budget submitted did not explain where the money went and it reflected a large surplus. He suggested that a volunteer could help with the completion of the application which would be necessary for the Hunger Fund to qualify for HSF A funding next year. In response to Council questions, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Manager Gonzalez, staff liaison to the HSF A Committee, advised that the Committee did not have direct contact with the requesting agencies, and described how Housing Coordinator Jones-Thomas assisted the Committee this year. She described how staff had tried to help the Emergency Hunger Fund with the application and reporting forms which provide accountability. Manager Gonzalez described how both the first application and second application submittals were handled by the HHCC Committee which was reluctant to accept the second one as it was submitted the night the HHCC was to make its final decisions. Mayor Hartnett called upon those people in the audience who had turned in speaker's cards and wanted to speak on the HSF A program distribution of funds. Laurie Wishard, President of Family Service Agency of San Mateo County, 707 Bradford Street, Redwood City, thanked the Committee and staff for its recommendation and described its expanded visitation services aimed at building strong, healthy families. Peter Reid, Legal Aid Society, thanked the Council for its past support for its Home Savers Program, and commended the HHCC Committee as was one of the hardest working, most conscientious groups he had ever seen. Mr. Reid described Legal Aid REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 5S MAY 19, 1997 MINUTES Page No. 336 PAGE 8