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Local nonprofit reports housing help for 33 people; council opens broad discussion on a community resource center
Summary
At a Twentynine Palms City Council meeting, Lakita Johnson of Molding Hearts reported serving 33 people and housing or linking 22. Councilmembers and residents discussed options for a city-run community resource center; no formal action was taken.
Lakita Johnson, CEO of Molding Hearts, told the Twentynine Palms City Council that her nonprofit has served 33 individuals and families and “22 individuals have been housed or linked to services.” The council discussed whether the city should pursue a community resource center or navigation services to centralize outreach, health and social services.
Johnson said Molding Hearts has helped nine males, eight females and five families, and has helped find employment for eight people. She described partnerships with county and nonprofit providers and said her group currently has “76 beds available.” She told council members the nonprofit provides a first-month subsidy and then expects clients to pay ongoing rent with their own benefits when applicable.
The item prompted an extended, council-led conversation about scope, funding and siting. City staff framed the discussion as an early-stage review and suggested steps including a community survey, a public workshop on needs, a cost‑benefit analysis, and identifying partners and funding sources. The city manager said the survey could be used as input for the council’s upcoming strategic planning session but acknowledged survey cost and timing concerns raised by council members.
Councilmembers and members of the public described existing local services and gaps. Councilmember Scott said the city already has done outreach work and a 2023 survey related to sewer funding, and he urged using prior work and the homeless and housing advisory committee as starting points. Councilmember Ramirez and others emphasized the need to consider long‑term operating costs and how to pay for additional staff or programs.
Nonprofit and county speakers recommended a broad approach. Lori Cosgrove of the 29 Palms Food Pantry and other public commenters asked that a resource center serve both housed and unhoused vulnerable residents, offering help with benefits applications, job referrals and behavioral health. Johnson and other local providers urged making services locally available rather than requiring people to travel to Yucca Valley. School board member Carolee Hargrove suggested partnerships with Morongo Unified School District to tap federal community‑school grants and existing facilities.
No ordinance or contract was proposed and the council did not take a vote on establishing a facility or committing funds. Councilmembers directed staff to include the topic on future strategic planning and to return with more detailed options, potential partners and cost estimates. Members of the public and several nonprofits offered to participate in planning work.
The discussion included repeated cautions about sustainable funding: several councilmembers said the city must identify revenue streams before acquiring or retrofitting buildings. Multiple speakers also urged that services be coordinated so responsibility does not fall solely on any single nonprofit.
