The San Rafael City Council extended its contract with a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that puts the homeless to work beautifying the city.

It’s been two years since the Downtown Streets Team first began working with San Rafael’s homeless population. Since then, individuals living on the streets have worked 20 hours a week logging a total of 28,550 hours cleaning streets, sidewalks and public parking areas in the city’s downtown.

The council Monday voted 4-0, with Councilwoman Kate Colin absent, to continue the $172,000 contract for another year. The county, which has contributed $100,000 each year for the last two years, will not be included in the new contract. County officials want to establish a separate contract to expand the program to other Marin communities, said Jason Satterfield, a homelessness policy analyst with the county.

San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips said he recommends the Downtown Streets Team to other communities.

“The Downtown Streets Team is working extremely well,” Phillips said. “It’s well received by downtown merchants and residents and we feel very good about the results after the two years that we’ve seen, so we’re excited about continuing our relationship with the Downtown Streets Team.”

The contract is funded with $102,000 from the city. The Marin Community Foundation and Kaiser Permanente will provide a combined $50,000; Sutter Health and Marin General Hospital are each contributing $10,000.

The funding goes toward the cost of a project manager, a case manager, tools and supplies, food and housing vouchers.

Through the program, at least 15 homeless individuals work 20 hours a week at beautification efforts in exchange for food and housing vouchers. Another 20 hours each week involve job search activities, including a nine-week job search skills course. The program has maintained a consistent participation of 25-30 people each weekly, according to the city.

Participants have worked at a number of companies, including United Parcel Service, Good Earth Natural Foods, Chipotle, Whole Foods and Petaluma Upholstery.

Once participants graduate, a monthly support group is offered through the program.

Stephanie Lovette, San Rafael’s economic development manager and city’s homeless coordinator, said 43 participants, two-thirds of all those involved, found full-time employment and managed to keep those jobs for at least six months.

“The program has been phenomenal,” Lovette said. “It’s been wonderful. It’s really given back to the community; it’s shown the community the faces of the people who are homeless.”