Several public commenters described local efforts and gaps in services for people experiencing homelessness and for underpaid city employees.

Paul Geigel, representing a faith-based effort tied to Ruth's Eliza Park, said an $8,030 contingency grant helped three people move into stable housing, formed a nine-member peer-support leadership team, and enabled cleanup efforts that removed 12,000 pounds of waste from an encampment. “The $8,000 didn't just fund operations. It transformed lives, sparked leadership, and forged partnerships that continue to grow,” Geigel said.

Grama Kai (Cara Lynn Sanders) described her own recent experience of being unhoused and said short-term housing options can be unsanitary and unsafe; she asked whether the city inspects short‑term rentals such as Airbnbs for habitability and urged programs that focus on upward mobility rather than short-term stabilization. William Hurst and others described peer-support work and thanked partners for helping people into housing.

Octavia Rainey told council she has observed city employees accessing SNAP and childcare assistance because of uneven pay across departments and urged the city to provide more targeted support for the 'city family' and ensure underpaid employees receive needed help, including seasonal assistance.

What happens next: speakers highlighted perceived program successes and ongoing gaps; no formal council directive or staff response was recorded in the public-comment portion of this meeting.