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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Camp sweep near I-70 in Lawrence leaves people asking where else they can go
People living in tents and hand-built structures near Interstate 70 in Lawrence
were forced to vacate the property in the cold during a camp sweep Wednesday. Many had their possessions destroyed and don’t know where they can go next.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Camp sweep near I-70 in Lawrence leaves people asking where else they can go
People living in tents and hand-built structures near Interstate 70 in Lawrence
were forced to vacate the property in the cold during a camp sweep Wednesday. Many had their possessions destroyed and don’t know where they can go next.
FORECAST
Lawrence, KS WeatherMORE
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s unofficial point-in-time count numbers show more folks seeking shelter
Unofficial numbers released Thursday showed that more people experiencing homelessness in Douglas County were seeking shelter on the day of an annual count than last year, and fewer were unsheltered.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Amid illness and short staffing, City of Lawrence seeks volunteers for winter shelter
Cold temperatures and the possibility of snow are in the forecast in the coming days, and the city is seeking volunteers to open an extra shelter space to ensure folks have a warm place to sleep.
City drops discrimination lawsuit against west Lawrence apartment complex
The city has dismissed a lawsuit against a Lawrence apartment complex accused of refusing to rent to a woman who receives housing vouchers, though ultimately the woman was not able to move in.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Single-family home construction in Lawrence continues to decline as home prices rise
Construction of single-family homes in Lawrence continued to decline in 2024, reaching a new low with only 57 permits granted by the city. At the same time, sale prices have continued to rise.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter still battling issues from blizzard, extreme cold
The blizzard that hit Lawrence and the lingering cold have wreaked some havoc for the Lawrence Community Shelter, including causing some pipes to freeze and burst and slowing construction of 24 new Pallet shelters.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence desperate for winter shelter volunteers
The city is in desperate need of help from volunteers to keep winter emergency shelters open amid extreme cold.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
First United Methodist Church opens to provide overnight shelter; University Community of Christ to open for day
Update: First United Methodist Church in downtown Lawrence opened its doors for overnight emergency shelter, and the University Community of Christ will open at 10 a.m. Sunday as a day shelter.
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.
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