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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.
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.
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Lawrence, KS WeatherMORE
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Manager of Pallet shelter village resigns
The manager of the Pallet shelter village for people experiencing homelessness has stepped down from her position.
Lawrence City Commission approves contracts with Bert Nash, Mirror Inc. for homeless response team
The Lawrence City Commission on a 3-1 vote Tuesday approved agreements that aim to boost outreach, case management and services for people living outside.
Lawrence school district will sell East Heights property for affordable housing project
The Lawrence school district will sell its former East Heights Elementary School property to developers planning to build affordable single-family homes.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider selling East Heights property for affordable housing project
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving the sale of the district’s former East Heights Elementary School property to develop affordable single-family homes.
Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
Lawrence ordinance meant to help people with vouchers find housing survives legal challenge
A Douglas County judge has ruled against a group of landlords who sued the City of Lawrence over an ordinance that bans discrimination against some prospective tenants.
Douglas County Commission approves strategic plan to end homelessness, discusses supportive housing
Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted to approve the joint city-county strategic plan to end homelessness and heard an update on supportive housing plans and projects.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission approves strategic plan to end homelessness; county commission to consider
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved the joint city-county strategic plan to end homelessness, which estimates a total of about $268 million to fulfill its goals over the next five years.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Lawrence, Douglas County commissioners vow to back policy that boosts elder care, ends chronic homelessness
Lawrence and Douglas County elected officials made pledges to support initiatives aimed at boosting the elder care workforce and abating chronic homelessness Sunday at the annual Justice Matters Action Assembly.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Baker University might sell land near wetlands discovery center for affordable housing development
A private investment company has approached Baker University about buying a parcel of land near the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center for the development of affordable housing.
Planning commission approves rezoning request for affordable housing development in west Lawrence
The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission on has approved a request to rezone land near Lawrence Montessori School to allow for affordable housing development.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence storytellers present digitized projects on homelessness, police brutality, Black joy
Suppressed experiences of marginalized communities — such as Lawrence’s unhoused people — have been brought to light by local storytellers.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s homelessness response team soon to launch; Artists Helping the Homeless to add peer outreach worker
The City of Lawrence’s multidisciplinary Homelessness Response Team will soon launch, and one member of that team will be a peer outreach worker with Artists Helping the Homeless.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Residents of North Lawrence campsite prepare to say goodbye
People have had a lot to say about the camp in North Lawrence over the past couple of years. But those who live there are mourning as they pack up to leave the place where they’ve made their homes.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
City to clear North Lawrence campsite Monday
Camping will no longer be allowed in the North Lawrence area behind Johnny’s Tavern effective Monday. Advocates dispute the city’s account that many former residents have “exited street homelessness.”
People living outside, advocates tell Lawrence City Commission trust is broken
Following an update on the city’s homelessness programs, many Lawrence community members who are living outside and advocates told city commissioners Tuesday that the city has broken their trust.
$40 million Kansas homeless shelter proposal comes with catch: enforcing bans in public spaces
Kansas communities are on track to receive state money to create more shelter for people under a new proposal — but a built-in provision could mean these people are criminalized for living outside first.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence closes sanctioned camp; confusion ensues for some people staying nearby
The City of Lawrence has closed the sanctioned camp for people experiencing homelessness, but some people who have been staying in camps nearby are confused about where they can and cannot be until camping in the area is banned in a month.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence plans: Open Pallet village, prohibit camping, establish police office downtown
The City of Lawrence is planning to open a village of shelters for people experiencing homelessness Monday, soon end support at the sanctioned North Lawrence campsite, prohibit camping in that area and establish an office for police officers who will patrol downtown full time.
New Kansas bill requests $40 million for homeless shelters, requires enforcement of camping laws
A bill supported by Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita is requesting $40 million from the state for homeless shelter infrastructure, and it also requires localities to enforce ordinances on camping and vagrancy.
Lawrence Community Shelter demographic reports on guests show racial disparities
People of color are overrepresented among guests at the Lawrence Community Shelter compared to the population of Douglas County, according to reports from the director.
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