Garden of Prayer and residents urge council to back transitional housing and services

Speakers during the public comment period urged city leaders to back facilities and services for people experiencing homelessness. Michael Obendinski relayed concerns from a Fraser Avenue resident and asked the council to consider a proposed transitional housing facility in the 5th Ward, saying it would help address mental-health and substance-use needs in the community.

Vernice Maloney of Garden of Prayer described her organization's 40 years of service, saying they now operate 11 locations and have provided shelter for 58 young people. "We are in the process of building another home," Maloney said, identifying the project as the Garden Project and asking the council for support. Resident Jeff Judd cautioned that many service grants require an operational facility to qualify: "If they're applying for service grants, they're not even gonna be able to apply for them if they don't have the approval or the use of the building," he said, noting grants often require an existing facility before funding will be awarded.

The record shows Council considered, but did not vote on, any funding or zoning changes at this meeting related to the shelter expansions; Director King later explained, during a separate agenda item, that a conditional-use amendment for Gift of God Street Ministries would add transitional units but the applicant would need funding and staffing before operating. That related zoning amendment was tabled by the council, which noted applicants may return if they secure funding.