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August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Here’s a glimpse at Lawrence’s Pallet village by the numbers after one year open
Just fewer than half of the people who have stayed at the Pallet shelter village for people experiencing homelessness have exited back to the streets or emergency shelter during the program’s first year, and about 25% left to permanent housing.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Here’s a glimpse at Lawrence’s Pallet village by the numbers after one year open
Just fewer than half of the people who have stayed at the Pallet shelter village for people experiencing homelessness have exited back to the streets or emergency shelter during the program’s first year, and about 25% left to permanent housing.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter, city prepare for winter weather; here’s where to go and how to help
With the possibility of severe weather looming, the Lawrence Community Shelter, city and volunteers are preparing to ensure everyone who needs a warm place to sleep will have one.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Tenant rights educator included in $1.2M the City of Lawrence will spend on housing initiatives in 2025
The City of Lawrence is doling out $1.2 million from its sales tax coffers for affordable housing and housing-adjacent projects. New this year will be a community educator to help renters learn their rights.
Low-income renters in Douglas County live in poor conditions because they fear landlord retaliation
Many low-income renters in Douglas County live in decaying homes with health hazards and believe there is little they can do to improve their situation, a new survey shows.
Housing prices in Kansas have exploded. Here are three ideas to make homes affordable
Home and rental prices have skyrocketed in recent years because of a housing shortage. That’s leading to a rise in homelessness and could be hurting the economy.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Railroad to sweep Lawrence property where many people moved after Amtrak camp closure, despite city’s objections
Many of the people who previously lived behind the Amtrak station in East Lawrence did not anticipate that they’d have to leave the property where they recently moved within two months.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter seeks extra $757K from city to increase capacity
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider adding about $757,000 to its 2024 agreement with the Lawrence Community Shelter for LCS to construct new Pallet shelters, fix up the Monarch Village and purchase “amnesty lockers.”
Kansas lawmakers want to crack down on homeless crime. Law enforcement says it won’t help
Law enforcement officials say arresting people who are unhoused for minor crimes like trespassing and vandalism will not help reduce homelessness. Experts say it will cost a lot of tax dollars and actually makes homelessness worse.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
‘A safe and stable place for families’: Family Promise of Lawrence celebrates new shelter
Dozens of community members gathered to celebrate the completion of Mt. Hope Shelter, a new shelter that will aim to help families stabilize as they seek permanent housing.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Christina Gentry: From experiencing homelessness and housing discrimination to advocating in Lawrence
With years of housing insecurity and discrimination behind her, Christina Gentry is now chair of Lawrence’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. In that role and other capacities, she strives to help folks who are now in the same space she was in not too long ago.
Family Promise of Lawrence to celebrate completion of new family shelter
A shelter that will aim to help Lawrence families find stability will soon welcome the public to an open house and ribbon cutting celebration.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Election results: Lawrence voters reject form of government change, approve sales tax increase
Voters said “no” Tuesday to the City of Lawrence’s ballot question on changing the form of government and “yes” to a sales tax increase to support affordable housing and homelessness programs.
Douglas County Renters Speak panel at library to highlight tenant experiences, survey results
A panel of local housing experts and advocates will soon take a deep dive into data from more than 1,000 community members who shared their perspectives on rental housing in Lawrence and Douglas County.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Planning Commission votes in favor of Pallets behind Lawrence Community Shelter
Planning commissioners on Wednesday voted in favor of plans to build 24 new cabin-like Pallet shelters behind the Lawrence Community Shelter building to provide up to 48 people overnight shelter through the winter.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City asking Lawrence voters to increase sales taxes for affordable housing, homelessness programs
Lawrence voters will soon decide whether to approve a sales tax increase that would add 1 cent per $20 spent in order to fund affordable housing and homelessness services. Here are some FAQs about the sales tax, what it would cost you, and what it would fund.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence clears Amtrak camp; former residents look for path forward
A parade of dump trucks carried away what remained of the camp where people were living behind the Amtrak station in East Lawrence throughout the day Wednesday, including memorials for camp residents who had died.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Amtrak camp residents confused as camp cleanup lags
Many residents of the camp behind the Amtrak station in East Lawrence thought Tuesday was the day they were expected to move out of the area. They were confused when final moveout and cleanup didn’t start.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Many people heading to different camps as City of Lawrence closes Amtrak camp
About 20 people living among the trees behind the Amtrak station in East Lawrence are moving to other camps with assistance from the city as the Amtrak camp’s closure looms.
Developers hope to replace downtown Lawrence parking lot with affordable apartments
A new proposed development would replace a downtown parking lot with a six-story building comprising more than 100 units of affordable housing.
Lawrence City Commission approves rezoning for west Lawrence affordable housing project
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved two requests to rezone properties in west Lawrence for the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority to construct affordable housing.
A home costs more than ever in Kansas. The 2008 housing crisis is part of the reason
Demand for homes in Kansas is high, but construction of new homes has been slow for more than a decade, making it even more difficult for buyers to purchase an affordable or middle-market home. That likely won’t be changing any time soon.
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