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18547 | SSHRB, Minutes - Regular Meeting, March 23, 2006 Page 2 provided in past and that additional money would have funded additional FVLC staff to work in APD and that other resources will be sought for this position. Bonta noted that the Food Bank requested more money and that they had received a allocation to purchase a modular unit earlier this year. Bonta noted that 3 organizations were not recommended for funding and that their scores are lower. In response to his question, Wright stated that the main reason is lack of funding and that existing contracts covering services are already in place and would have to be de-funded. ACAP has other resources to operate their program; the Goodwill program has a high price tag, they too have other resources and the City already funds other homeless services. Wright further stated that although not recommended for funding, BAIRS gets an "honorable mention." The concept is good, but there are confluence of issues affecting the city, such as federal requirements re: handling of translation and services to limited English speaking populations. BAIRS received a lower score on capacity to deliver the services. They think BAIRS is good candidate for technical assistance to see if we can get the Director certified to provide the services. Jim Franz, Red Cross Bay Area, thanked the Board for supporting reprogrammed funds earlier in the year and noted that so far only $2,500 has been disbursed because of mild weather, but recently there has been a spike in calls. He hopes the Board will approve the recommendations of staff that support safety net services, not just the ARC but the Food Bank as well. He noted a plan to increase ASC meetings from 3 to 5 per year to bring agencies and providers together, knowing there will be tighter times in the future, and collecting referral sheets from each agency and working with the libraries to get that information out in the west end. Cheri Allison, Family Violence Law Center Executive Director asked the Board to approve the recommendations of staff. FVLC has provided services in Alameda for at least 6 years, including domestic violence (DV) counseling, accompanying women and children to court and helping with restraining orders. They have been trying to get a DV advocate stationed in APD. The number of people they're able to help goes up astronomically. When they can they send a staff attorney to court on DV day (Friday) to assist the court in counseling people who don't have representation. Recently they entered into an operational agreement with Building Futures with Women and Children to conduct DV restraining order clinics at APC. They have an Active Board of Directors and are working on a five-year strategic plan, including sustainability strategies. A recent fundraiser netted $51,000. In response to Hollinger-Jackson's questions, Allison responded that they connect with women needing FVLC services through trainings, referral cards given to victims by the police and other referring agencies, and through another program in Oakland, not funded by Alameda, that assists APD in placing vicitims after hours. In response to Bonta's question, Allison stated that they attend the Alameda court and that they have 6 staff attorneys, 2 of whom are Spanish speaking and also volunteer attorneys who mostly work on long-term and/or complicated cases. They go though a DV training course and are screened by Alameda County Women's Bar Association. Shar Escobar, East Bay Community Mediation, stated they train people to become community peacemakers by giving them basic communication skills, and problem solving and dispute resolution |