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Lawrence City Commission lifts cap on short-term rentals for duration of World Cup
Lawrence city commissioners have approved a change to remove the limit on how many short-term rental units — such as AirBnBs — property owners may hold. The change will be in place throughout the World Cup.
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Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence Times
City of Lawrence on latest count of unhoused people: ‘City is focused on knowing each person by name’
In response to the latest point-in-time count of people experiencing homelessness in Douglas County, the City of Lawrence says employees are making individual connections with people, leading to “powerful milestones of impact.”
Annual count shows number of unhoused people up 6 from previous Douglas County record
The latest point-in-time count numbers of people experiencing homelessness in Douglas County show a count just slightly higher than 2020, the previous record year.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter board concerned about 2025 funding; city looking to limit services to locals
Lawrence Community Shelter board members shared concerns Thursday about the shelter’s funding, which could rely upon voters approving a sales tax increase. Meanwhile, the city is working on limiting homelessness services to people who have local ties.
A shelter for families experiencing homelessness is in the works in Lawrence
The City of Lawrence and Douglas County are looking to establish a shelter for families experiencing homelessness, and they’ll be one step closer to that goal if a $750,000 budget request gets approved.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City budget would hike property taxes, seek to double .05% sales tax to support homelessness solutions
The Lawrence city manager’s proposed budget for 2025 would increase the property tax rate, and it proposes asking voters to double the .05% affordable housing sales tax to support homelessness initiatives. It would also cut some of Parks & Rec’s budget.
Homelessness is rising in Kansas and state lawmakers aren’t doing much to help
A bill in the Kansas Legislature would have provided millions of dollars to build homeless shelters across the state. But lawmakers let the bill stall in committee and left Topeka for the year without taking any meaningful action to address the growing problem.
Lawrence City Commission to hear report on funds for homeless outreach, land development code updates
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will hear a report on how Bert Nash has used city funding for its homeless outreach services. They’ll also hear an update on the land development code rewrite.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
New director opens Lawrence Community Shelter as weather emergency shelter during 100-degree days
As the season’s first heat advisory goes into effect Monday and temps hit 100°, people living outside will be able to seek refuge at the Lawrence Community Shelter. That’s one of many changes under the new director’s watch.
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.
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