The local homeless response team is asking churches and organizations to offer people a warm place to sleep this winter, rather than opening community buildings that have been used in the past.
Winter shelter could be necessary not only for people who are experiencing homelessness, but for anyone who loses power or lacks safe conditions.
Getting an early start on plans this year, Jill Jolicoeur, assistant Douglas County administrator, and Misty Bosch-Hastings, director of the city’s Homeless Solutions Division, gave a brief presentation about developing plans during a webinar Monday evening.
The primary overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness during winter will be the Lawrence Community Shelter, 3655 E. 25th St. There will be up to 140 beds available there, Jolicoeur said.
Plans currently do not call for the city to open overflow shelter spaces used in previous years, such as the Amtrak station in East Lawrence or the Community Building downtown.
Instead, the city is committing to have one staff person at each church or community site while it’s open, Bosch-Hastings said. Sites will depend on volunteer support, as well.
Currently, University Community of Christ, First United Methodist Church, Jesus Community Church of the Nazarene and Lawrence First Church have signed on to provide additional shelter space if needed.
“If your organization cannot offer physical space, please know that your time and support as a volunteer are just as crucial,” Bosch-Hastings said.
Homeless response team members are also working to develop a policy for community providers to give folks who are not from Douglas County a respite stay and then “move them on to their community where they have connections to a network of support,” Jolicoeur said.
The team will be seeking a place where people who have pets can stay with their animals.
“This is an important option, as it ensures that pet owners are not forced to choose between their safety and the care of their animals,” Bosch-Hastings said.
Eligible people to stay at winter shelter are adults ages 18 and up who can care for themselves, according to the presentation. The extreme weather emergency shelter plan strives to operate in a “harm-prevention model,” which means guests who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol may still be able to access shelter. Jolicoeur said there will be opportunities for training for organizations that wish to follow that model, but it will not be required for sites to participate.
The United Way of Kaw Valley will offer a website for volunteers to sign up for shifts at overnight shelters. That will be online at kawvalleyvolunteers.org.
An in-person follow-up meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 in Flory Meeting Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., to discuss plans for winter sheltering in more depth.
Those who have questions or wish to get involved can also email Bosch-Hastings at mhastings@lawrenceks.org and Jolicoeur at jjolicoeur@dgcoks.gov.
Pastor Jeff Mercer of University Community of Christ said in January that church was assessed to provide shelter for up to 25 people, and about 18 to 20 showed up to the walk-in shelter each night. Sometimes people would be dropped off by police or other folks who saw people outside and brought them in, at all hours of the night.
“But they got out of the cold. And so I’m glad that we were there for that,” Mercer said.
“… I wish we did not have a need for a shelter, but until we can get that issue addressed, I felt just blessed to be able to pitch in and help out,” he said.
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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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