The Douglas County Commission on Wednesday will hear about a plan to convert some tiny homes into extended-stay housing at the Lawrence Community Shelter.
Commissioners will hear a presentation about a three-month pilot for a new Monarch CARES, or Crisis And Respite Extended Stay, program.
Currently, 12 shipping container shelters make up the Monarch Village at the community shelter. The Monarch CARES pilot program would convert three of them into extended-stay units for people who have more intensive medical and behavioral needs, according to the meeting agenda. Typical stays would range from 30 to 180 days.
The pilot is proposed for the last three months of this year, with a possibility to extend into 2027.
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The plan for the extended-stay units is from the Familiar Faces Initiative, which focuses on improving care for highly vulnerable people who most frequently use emergency, behavioral health and crisis services. It includes representatives from the city, county, LMH Health, Lawrence Community Shelter and the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.
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Representatives have said the Monarch Village has resulted in a decrease in emergency service calls for high-need residents, but opportunities for longer stays are needed.
“One of the most essential tools in the crisis continuum is the ability to offer clients the gift of time,” the meeting agenda says.
A new service agreement with the shelter would cost up to $28,500, with an additional $8,000 set aside for health services, according to the meeting agenda.
The item is set for a work session, meaning the commission is not set to take any firm action.
The commission’s work session will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 in the commission chamber of the historic courthouse at 1100 Massachusetts St. The regular commission meeting will start at 5:30 p.m.
People can submit written public comment to [email protected] up until 24 hours ahead of the scheduled meeting start time. The commission does not hear public comment during work sessions, but there is a general public comment period during the regular meeting afterward.
See the commission’s meeting agenda at this link, and find info to attend the meeting via Zoom at this link.
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2022. He can be reached at [email protected].
Read his complete bio at this link. Read more of his work for the Times at this link.
More coverage of the Lawrence Community Shelter:
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