Moses Lake public speaker urges peer support, council appoints member to ad hoc homeless committee and backs veterans grant letter

A Moses Lake resident who identified himself as Steven Smallwood urged the council to expand peer‑support and transitional work opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and asked for a greater role for people with lived experience in local planning.

Steven Smallwood, who said he volunteers at the local sleep center and has been unhoused at times, told the council: “There needs to be, like, a program or something or a way to be able to transition them into, back into the world so they're not wild.” He described long waits for services and urged programs that combine accountability and work‑focused tasks such as community cleanup projects.

Council response and committee appointment: Deputy Mayor Madewell asked Smallwood what kinds of programs he would like to see; Smallwood suggested peer support and community service tasks to build responsibility and pathways into employment. Council members said the idea of including lived experience on the city’s ad hoc homeless committee was worth pursuing. Mayor Schwartz recommended an appointment to the ad hoc homeless committee and the council voted to confirm the appointment of Brandon Douglas by voice vote. The motion passed.

Veterans program letter of support: City manager Madeline asked the council to authorize a letter of support for OIC of Washington’s application to the state for a Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program grant. Madeline told the council the city had received the request and that a staff packet included information about the recommended candidate and the program. Council members discussed existing local supports: a county program that provides vouchers and HopeSource program references; council staff noted the city’s sleep center served 15 veterans in 2024.

Council member Kevin Burgess (commenting from council) moved for the city to produce the letter of support; another council member seconded. Council voted “Aye” and the motion passed. Staff confirmed the signed letter will be sent the next day.

Why it matters: Council members said peer‑support and including people with lived experience can improve program design and trust with unsheltered residents. Council asked that the ad hoc committee and staff consider ways to incorporate peer support into local services and noted liability and program design considerations would need addressing before implementing volunteer or paid peer roles.