A new six-unit housing development in central Lawrence will begin welcoming families in early to mid-September, offering lower-barrier housing and case management for people working to regain long-term stability.
Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church, Family Promise of Lawrence, city and county officials and other community partners celebrated the opening of Promise Heights on Thursday at 909 Tennessee St.
The development includes six units, including two three-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units, two of which are accessible ground-floor units.
“We envisioned a place that would offer more than housing,” Takisha Derritt, Ninth Street’s project lead and Family Promise board vice president said during the ceremony. “It would offer hope, dignity, and an opportunity for families working toward a brighter future.”
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Families will sign a one-year lease that may be extended for a second year, Family Promise Executive Director Brenda Wahl said after the ceremony. The organization will encourage residents to seek longer-term housing in the community after that.
Residents with Section 8 vouchers will pay their portion of the rent while the housing authority covers the remaining amount, Wahl said. Family Promise can use a sliding scale for families without vouchers.
The church developed the project and will provide Family Promise use of the building, Wahl said. Family Promise will operate Promise Heights as part of its housing program, providing case management and connecting residents with services.
The development was built without a mortgage, Douglas County Commissioner Karen Willey said, allowing funds raised for the project to go directly toward supporting families. County capital funding, including dollars from the behavioral health sales tax, helped make that possible, she said.
Wahl said Family Promise receives an average of eight calls each weekday from families seeking shelter or housing assistance. Families facing eviction, low incomes, insufficient credit or rental histories, or difficulty covering move-in costs can struggle to secure stable housing, she said.
“Promise Heights is what we’re calling it, and that’s what Promise Heights is,” Wahl said. “It’s housing with lowered barriers and case management support.”
Mayor Brad Finkeldei said the project also illustrates the city’s goal of adding housing through infill development and greater density. He said the three-bedroom and accessible units address needs that are often difficult for families to find in Lawrence.
Derritt said the sixplex grew from a vision to use church land to create “safe, affordable, and dignified homes.”
“This is more than a sixplex,” Derritt said. “It is a testament to the great things that can happen when faith becomes action.”
More information about Family Promise can be found on its website at this link. Additional affordable housing resources can be found on the city’s website at this link.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
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Jacob Rice (he/him), photo editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since March 2026. He can be reached at [email protected].
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Jacob Rice / Lawrence TimesLawrence community members celebrate opening of Promise Heights housing for families
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