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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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Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
North Lawrence camp residents say violence and chaos is increasing, and the new fence hasn’t helped
People living at the city-run campsite in North Lawrence say they’re struggling with increased interlopers, assaults, theft and drug activity in the week since the city installed a fence intended to prevent visitors, and a woman said she was raped at the camp on Sunday.
Lawrence City Commission denies plan for Fall Creek Villas duplex project
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-2 to deny a plan for a strip of duplexes in northwestern Lawrence.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission to revisit plan for housing development in northwestern Lawrence
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will again consider a plan to build 14 duplex buildings in a green strip of land that neighbors say should not be developed.
Cap on short-term rental units to remain for now, Lawrence City Commission decides
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday decided to table a discussion on raising or eliminating the cap on the number of short-term rental units property owners may license in some parts of town.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
Many North Lawrence campsite residents surprised, upset by new fence closing off camp
Emerging from their tents on Tuesday morning, residents at the city-run campsite in North Lawrence saw workers installing a fence designed to keep visitors out.
Lawrence Tenants to hold ‘Imagination Session’ to plan future activism
Lawrence Tenants are inviting renters to an “Imagination Session” on Thursday to dream up what changes they want to see next for the local housing landscape.
‘She was part of this place’: Family members, North Lawrence camp residents mourn mother of 3
A plume of smoke has drifted skyward from the city-run campsite in North Lawrence ever since Ashley Sawyer, of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, was found dead in her tent last week.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Draft strategic plan sets goals for Douglas County to reach functional zero homelessness
A draft strategic plan sets a goal of 2028 for Lawrence and Douglas County to achieve functional zero homelessness. The plan emphasizes equity, inclusion, and correcting imbalances of power.
Family struggling with anger after woman’s death at North Lawrence campsite
Ashley Sawyer’s family members learned that she died this week, but rather than sit with their loss, they are processing feelings of anger and confusion resulting from the police department’s failure to notify them properly.
Letter to the Times: We can prevent more deaths of unhoused community members
”Those of us who care about Lawrence and who care about the state of our society must come together to help unhoused people,” Nancy Snow writes in this letter to the Times.
Lawrence City Commission approves developer’s request to annex land north of Rock Chalk Park to build 300-plus homes
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday approved annexing and rezoning land north of city limits, where a developer plans to build 300 or more market-rate homes.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Woman dead at North Lawrence campsite; Times reporter ordered to leave
Camp residents found a woman dead in her tent at the North Lawrence campsite for people experiencing homelessness Tuesday night, and police forced a reporter who was interviewing camp residents to leave.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission approves plans for Pallet Shelter Village on former Veritas property
The Lawrence City Commission has approved the purchase of land on North Michigan Street and a contract for temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Pinkney residents, preschool leaders concerned about plans for homeless shelter site
Residents of Lawrence’s Pinkney neighborhood and staff at a nearby preschool are questioning the site where the city plans to place a “village” for people experiencing homelessness, and how the project would be managed.
Developer seeks to annex land north of Rock Chalk Park to build 300-plus homes
A developer will ask the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday to approve annexing and rezoning land north of city limits to build 300 or more market-rate homes.
Lawrence City Commission to consider land purchase, zoning and code exemption for Pallet Shelter Village
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider a $725,000 land purchase, a contract for $1.11 million of temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness, and a resolution suspending zoning and code enforcement on that property for a year.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
City announces tentative location for Pallet Shelter Village: North Michigan Street
The City of Lawrence on Wednesday announced the location for its planned Pallet Shelter Village site: 256 North Michigan St., pending Lawrence City Commission approval.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
North Lawrence camp residents say city workers won’t let certain people shower; one woman alleges harassment
Residents of the North Lawrence campsite for people experiencing homelessness say city workers have denied some people showers in the hygiene trailer recently placed at the site, and a woman alleges that one city worker harassed her as she showered.
Lawrence’s Winter Emergency Shelter closes; nearly 200 volunteers helped keep it running this year
The city’s Winter Emergency Shelter has closed for the season — and maybe for the last time. The city is not planning to use the Community Building for a winter shelter next year, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board learned Monday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Community Shelter to increase capacity by night but limit daytime stays
The Lawrence Community Shelter is increasing its nighttime capacity on Monday to 125 people — more than double the population it’s served since 2020. However, it’s also limiting the number of people who can be there during the days.
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