Homelessness & housing
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Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission to look into whether unhoused people need discrimination protections
Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission met Monday, for the first time since December 2025, and agreed to take steps to understand if local unhoused people face discrimination in social services due to their housing status.
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Lawrence’s affordable housing board eyeing sites around the city for development
Lawrence’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board is looking at vacant lots around town that could be good spots to develop more infill housing, including near Oak Hill Cemetery, Fifth and Mississippi streets, and more.
Contributed photo
Upcoming exhibition will share history, culture of unhoused communities in Lawrence
People can view an art wall featuring work from previously and currently unhoused community members in an exhibition called “Unsettled Lawrence” at the Watkins Museum of History.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence workshops to guide first-time homebuyers, advise on renters’ rights
Two free workshops coming up at the Lawrence Public Library will help residents navigate from renting to buying housing.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members voice concerns about framing of discussion on homelessness
Dozens of community members gathered Wednesday and many voiced concerns about a discussion hosted by three county and city commissioners and advertised as focusing on a plan to handle homelessness.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
O’Connell Children’s Shelter opens family service center in Douglas County
O’Connell Children’s Shelter hosted a ribbon cutting Tuesday for a family service center, which staff said will offer wraparound services and three beds for kids in crisis.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence city commissioners approve affordable housing incentive policy
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved a policy that aims to standardize how the city chooses affordable housing projects to award incentives.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission approves 10-year plan to address housing issues
Lawrence city commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a study and 10-year plan to address housing issues in the city.
Jacob Rice/Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission to consider affordable housing incentive policy, hear proposal from chamber
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider approving a policy on affordable housing incentives, and they’ll discuss a proposal from the chamber of commerce suggesting that city voters directly elect the mayor.
City Commission approves tax breaks for northwest Lawrence apartment complex
Lawrence city commissioners voted 3-1 Tuesday to approve sales tax breaks for a new market-rate, “townhome-style” apartment complex slated for northwest Lawrence.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission to consider tax breaks for market-rate apartments
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider a request for tax breaks on construction materials to build market-rate apartments in west Lawrence.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Get to know Majed Al-Ghafry, Lawrence’s incoming city manager
Lawrence’s new city manager, Majed Al-Ghafry, is stepping into his role with a plan. Here’s what he said about his goals for Lawrence, including transparency, the budget, housing, university partnerships and citywide inclusivity.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission holds off on sale of downtown parking lot for affordable housing
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday agreed to postpone their decision on whether to sell a downtown parking lot to developers planning to construct income-restricted apartments for people ages 55 and up.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission to consider selling parking lot at 7th and New Hampshire for affordable housing
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider selling a downtown parking lot — for less than 10% of its appraised value — to affordable housing developers to build housing for folks ages 55 and up with low incomes.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
New transitional housing addresses gap for Douglas County women in recovery with children
Douglas County has a gap in transitional housing options for women in recovery with their children. DCCCA’s newly unveiled duplex community aims to offer hope.
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Lawrence needs more housing units to improve affordability, consultant tells commissioners
Consultants told the city commission Tuesday that Lawrence needs more of all types of housing units on the market in the next decade in order to increase affordability.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence ordinance meant to help people find housing will be void under new state law
A new state law will soon void a Lawrence city ordinance that has helped some residents with low incomes find housing over the past three years.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Curveball decision from Douglas County Commission awards contract to both bidders for eviction defense pilot program
Kansas Legal Services and Kansas Holistic Defenders agreed Wednesday to collaborate on an eviction defense pilot program in Douglas County and provide services to tenants in the face of a “clunky” initiative rollout.
Lawrence invited to open house for supportive housing project at KU
KU will soon host an open house for Kaw House, a newly completed supportive housing project designed and built by architecture students and faculty.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Douglas County staff, some advocates divided on contractor for eviction defense pilot program
Douglas County staff want to award Kansas Legal Services a contract to run a pilot eviction defense program. Some advocates prefer Kansas Holistic Defenders because the group can represent undocumented people.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Douglas County commissioners to review plan for eviction defense pilot program
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will review a plan for the Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program they approved in March. If they give the go-ahead, county staff members will solicit proposals from nonprofit legal services to run the program.
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Resources for renters and tenants
Tenant issues and rights:
• Read about the rights Kansas tenants have and issues that could come up before, during and after tenancy from Kansas Legal Services.
• Find more info and connect with Lawrence Tenants.
Evictions:
• Learn about the eviction process from the Kansas Judicial Branch at this link.
• Check out the self-help page on the Douglas County District Court’s website at dgcoks.gov/district-court/self-help for resources and helpful forms.
• Find the Kansas Judicial Branch’s eviction expungement portal online at this link.
City of Lawrence fair housing help:
• Find information about the city’s fair housing civil rights enforcement procedures and a form to initiate a complaint on the city’s website at lawrenceks.org/attorney/fairhousing, or call 785-832-3310.
Rental assistance:
• Apply for help from the Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative via the county’s website at this link.
• Apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP, at this link during colder months to help cover home energy costs.
• Find more resources to help with rent and utility payments on the Lawrence Public Library’s website.
News coverage:
• See the latest articles from The Lawrence Times on the following topics: homelessness and housing; renter rights; source of income discrimination; affordable housing; tenant right to counsel
