Lawrence Community Shelter still battling issues from blizzard, extreme cold

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The blizzard that hit Lawrence and the lingering cold have wreaked some havoc for the Lawrence Community Shelter, including causing some pipes to freeze and burst and slowing construction of 24 new Pallet shelters. 

James Chiselom, executive director of LCS, said deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office helped staff members get to work during the blizzard, and it would’ve been very difficult for LCS to keep operating if not for that assistance.

He also thanked the members of the city’s Homeless Response Team and volunteers who have staffed overflow emergency shelters.

But the weather also halted work on building an additional 24 Pallet shelters behind the shelter’s main building at 3655 E. 25th St. (Pallet shelters get their name from the Washington-based company that produces them — they are not made of pallets.) They are tiny, cabin-like emergency shelters. Each unit has an HVAC unit, so they should stay warm to be used through the winter.

LCS had planned to build and use 24 additional units that have been in storage as night-by-night shelters, but the process has gone slower than planned. Chiselom said he has a general contractor coming out Friday to revisit the site and prepare for where they’re going to start.

James Chiselom

“This weather has put everything behind,” he said.

Monarch Village, a group of 12 tiny-home-like units behind the shelter that first opened to guests in 2021, had been closed since April 2024. The units were constructed from shipping containers, and their airtightness led to moisture and mold issues. LCS had most of the units repaired and anticipated reopening them for the winter.

But while no one was living in the Monarch Village, LCS had shut off the water, Chiselom said. He said staff members have been checking to ensure the heat has stayed on, because it doesn’t. He said now in three units, pipes have frozen and burst.

“It’s a horrible system. I thought we had it figured out, how to do it, but we didn’t,” he told the LCS board of directors during their Thursday meeting.

Previously, Chiselom said that LCS expected to have the capacity for 173 people onsite this winter: up to 24 people in the Monarch Village units, up to 101 people inside the main shelter building and up to 48 people in the 24 Pallet shelters.

Over capacity

The shelter has also been at or above capacity most nights over the past few weeks, some employees have said.

The City of Lawrence is working with local churches and volunteers this year to provide additional space and ensure there’s room for everyone who needs a warm place to sleep.

Chiselom said LCS has had up to 155 people seek overnight shelter — 15 over its current capacity of 140. He also said that the longer the cold temperatures last, the more people are likely to come into shelter.

Dean Robinson, a case manager at the shelter and chief union steward for CWA Local 6400, told the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday that there’s still not enough space for all the people who need it, even with overflow shelters open.

Robinson thanked the faith communities that have helped out during the dangerously cold temperatures and encouraged people to volunteer, but he also emphasized systemic issues that are perpetuating homelessness.

Robinson pointed to a housing market that he said is intentionally designed to exclude an increasing portion of the population in order to maintain profits and landlords increasing rents year after year while wages aren’t keeping up as key factors in the housing and homelessness crisis.

“Many of the folks who live at the shelter are unable to make three times the amount of rent, which is a requirement for many of the available rentals and Lawrence, and many employers are unwilling to hire someone who is unhoused, making it increasingly difficult to find housing for our people,” he said. “This is to say that while shelter is necessary, it should not be the only initiative for addressing homelessness.”

Board’s executives elected

LCS board members on Thursday also elected their new executive members.

Board President Charlie Bryan will continue in his role, and Christina Gentry will continue as secretary, with the added duties of treasurer. Chuck Magerl will serve as vice president.

The other current members of the board are Rebekah Gaston, John Krehbiel, Shannon Oury and Chaconie Baker. Baker was appointed in August to fill the seat vacated by Elizabeth Keever when her term ended.

Board members are appointed by the Lawrence City Commission and Douglas County Commission.

LCS has also rebranded, changed its logo and updated its website, lawrenceshelter.org.

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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.

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