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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
‘We’re regressing’: Douglas County commissioners again bump tenant right to counsel program to back burner
Although Douglas County has expressed commitment to tenant right to counsel and has engaged in implementation discussions for months, a majority of county commissioners Wednesday opted instead to have county staff do more research on mediation.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
‘We’re regressing’: Douglas County commissioners again bump tenant right to counsel program to back burner
Although Douglas County has expressed commitment to tenant right to counsel and has engaged in implementation discussions for months, a majority of county commissioners Wednesday opted instead to have county staff do more research on mediation.
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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.
Groundbreaking ceremony set for Delmar Place Apartments, new affordable housing for seniors
A groundbreaking ceremony will mark the start of construction for Delmar Place Apartments, a new affordable housing development for older people with low incomes.
LDCFM’s Mobile Integrated Health team shares progress update
The Mobile Integrated Health team, which includes two Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical technicians, aims to meet people where they are and help them with their medical needs to avoid use of emergency services in the future.
Forget the stereotypes. Many homeless Kansans have jobs but can’t afford a place to live
Advocates say homelessness in Kansas is mainly caused by a lack of affordable housing, not issues like mental health. Efforts to increase housing stock have built thousands of new units, but it’s not enough, and some communities oppose new developments.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter plans 2 people per Pallet shelter behind building; Monarch Village to reopen
The Lawrence Community Shelter is planning to randomly assign two unhoused people night by night to sleep inside each of the 24 Pallet shelters — tiny cabins — to be built behind the main shelter.
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