Ideas, suggestions, challenges focus of homelessness forum

• Participants discussed addressing homelessness following the impending closure of the Open Doors sleep center. 

• Forum attendees found that better communication and publicity for programs is necessary. 

• More planning is necessary to address the problems unsheltered residents in Moses Lake are experiencing, participants said.

MOSES LAKE — About 100 people came to the Moses Lake Civic Center on Tuesday to make suggestions and consider options for the way forward after the Open Doors Sleep Center closes at the end of the month. 

Most of the sleep center operation was funded by a grant from the Washington Department of Commerce, which the Moses Lake City Council opted not to renew, as council member Don Myers explained to the people at his table. 

“So where are they going to go?” a participant asked Myers. 

“That’s what we need your help with,” Myers said. 

Participants were broken up into groups and provided with questions and topics for conversation. The people at each table were asked to summarize their discussions and suggestions.  

Doug Sherman, summarizing the discussion for his table, said it’s a big and complex issue. 

“We didn’t have a lot of solutions, and that’s the reality,” he said.  

The sleep center provides overnight shelter for about 25 to 35 people, but, as Sherman pointed out, that’s not big enough. 

“Between 27 and 35 people are at the (sleep center) but there are somewhere between 180 and 200 people that are homeless in our community,” Sherman said. “So even there, we are barely scratching the surface when it comes to meeting the need.” 

What happens once the sleep center closes was a frequently expressed concern.  

“The unhoused community (needs) a place to stay – there's no place for them to go,” said Sarah Delacruz, who summarized the results for her table. “There’s no plan in place to deal with where the unhoused are going to go. If it’s expected for other agencies to provide the services, then the city needs to make it more inviting for those agencies to work with the city.” 

Dan Delano, summarizing for his table, said a plan was needed, which would make it easier for all city residents. People at his table cited services that are already available, but said information about them is poorly organized.  

“A lot of the services that we are funding currently, both city and county, are not being advertised enough, or properly. And that could be improved – that wouldn’t require any extra money, just outreach and education,” Delano said.  

Better communication, both between people providing services and with the people they serve, was a common suggestion. 

“There was definitely a desire at our table to have better ways to connect people to services,” said Moses Lake Mayor Dustin Swartz. 

Summarizing for his table, Joseph Moriarty said there are people willing to help, if they can be pointed in the right direction. 

“We had several (people) make reference to wanting to volunteer but not knowing where to get plugged in to the existing nonprofits,” Moriarty said.  

Stefanie Dunn said participants at her table asked about the possibility of a treatment center in Moses Lake or making it easier and faster to get to existing treatment. 

City officials are working on a page listing local resources for people in need, and Moriarty suggested the city look at building a care portal app that people could access from a phone. There are grants available for that, he said.  

Matt Paluch said one of the suggestions at his table was repurposing the existing Samaritan Hospital to provide services when the new facility is completed in spring 2026.  

Maria Vargas said attacking a complex problem requires flexibility. 

“One thing we all identified with is we need to have more than one approach. It has to be meeting people where they’re at,” Vargas said. “There have to be available resources, maybe a resource fair, a one-stop shop for people to go to find the services they need.” 

Paluch said people at his table suggested that a central hub should have information on job opportunities and placements. He added that the city can help make it easier to provide services. 

“One of our table members attempted to have their church basement as a shelter, but faced financial and staffing obstacles due to city regulations,” he said.  

Delano said some people who are homeless will take advantage of services, but not all of them. Sherman said expanded services will have to be available. 

“Obviously, we need a lot more wraparound services to meet homeless people at their hour and time of need. Because one of the things we recognize is that there are a lot of people in the homeless community that are not at the point where they are ready for help, especially if they’re dealing with addiction issues or mental health issues. But when they are ready, we need to have people that are available,” Sherman said. 

City Manager Rob Karlinsey said the information gathered from the meeting will be considered when preparing the plan that will be presented at the June 10 council meeting.  

Vargas said the people at her table suggested that cooperation would make any response more effective. 

“Working together, not apart, and not being siloed,” she said. 

    About 100 people attended a community forum to discuss ideas for addressing homelessness in Moses Lake.  

    Tables and conversations filled the Moses Lake council chambers during a discussion on homelessness.  

    Participants came up with suggestions and ideas during a homeless forum in Moses Lake Tuesday. Many indicated that a more coordinated effort and better information sharing were needed to address the complex challenges unsheltered residents face.