LATEST
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
Winter Emergency Shelter to close, then Community Building floors to be refinished
Lawrence’s indoor Winter Emergency Shelter will close after Sunday night, and then the Community Building will be closed for maintenance.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
No deal: City of Lawrence, developers reach ‘mutual impasse’ on proposed site of Pallet Shelter Village
Plans for development of a site near 18th and Haskell for a temporary modular home village for people experiencing homelessness have come to a halt, a developer says.
Consultants recommend City of Lawrence allocate $1.4M in grant funds to affordable housing
Statistics and survey responses made clear that affordable housing is Lawrence’s most pressing need in order to alleviate and prevent homelessness, consultants told the city commission on Tuesday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City sets sights on 18th & Haskell for Lawrence’s Pallet Shelter Village, old Veritas building for shelter
The City of Lawrence is planning to raise modular shelters for people experiencing homelessness at a site near 18th Street and Haskell Avenue, sources say. In addition, the city plans to buy the old Veritas Christian School property on North Michigan Street, possibly for use as a family shelter.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
City to install hygiene trailer at North Lawrence campsite, following questions about staff trailer
The city will install a bathroom and shower trailer at the North Lawrence campsite for people experiencing homelessness, despite the plan violating city code. The city recently brought an office trailer to the support site, sparking confusion and controversy.
Jared Wolsey / Contributed Photo
Kansas plan to penalize homeless people for sleeping on public property draws sharp criticism
A bill that drew sharp opposition Thursday would let the Kansas AG penalize cities that don’t enforce no-camping rules and let the state deny non-compliant cities money to combat homelessness.
House lawmakers strike out legislation meant to end Kansas local anti-discrimination measures
Following backlash to legislation that would have nullified local government anti-discrimination protections, lawmakers voted to strike the offending section from an anti-discrimination bill.
How one Kansas City nonprofit is providing a solution for unhoused veterans
The Veterans Community Project, located at 89th and Troost, is dedicated to moving unhoused veterans off the streets. The organization owns a village of tiny homes that houses veterans free of charge and without a deadline to move out.
Kansas cities push back against House bill nullifying local anti-discrimination ordinances
Rep. Patrick Penn introduced a section of a bill that would strike down local government measures against discrimination and forbid cities from adopting restraints on discrimination beyond state or federal law.
Lawrence City Commission approves ordinance changes aimed at helping people find housing
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on source of income, as well as status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. The change also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
‘This was not a good Samaritan out giving food’: Residents of North Lawrence camp, advocate counter narrative about fight
Two residents of the North Lawrence camp for people experiencing homelessness were charged with crimes after a fight Saturday, but other residents and an advocate say the alleged victim was not supposed to be at the support site at all.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence City Commission to vote on proposed ordinance change aimed at helping people find housing
Lawrence city commissioners are set to vote Tuesday on proposed changes to city ordinances that advocates say could help people secure housing. They’ll also decide whether to include tenant protections based on immigration status.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
City thanks resident of North Lawrence camp for managing site, says staff will now take over
The city has thanked camp resident Jennifer Adams for managing the North Lawrence support site for people experiencing homelessness but says her services are no longer needed, and that moving forward, city staff will manage the site.
Lawrence city manager: Pallet shelter village slated for June, plus more updates on homelessness and housing crisis
The Lawrence city manager shared updates Tuesday about a Pallet shelter village for people experiencing homelessness, possible merger with the Lawrence Community Shelter and more regarding the local affordable housing crisis.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
Advocates concerned about city leaning on unpaid work from resident of North Lawrence campsite
The task of checking people in at the North Lawrence campsite for people experiencing homelessness falls on resident Jennifer Adams — along with other duties, such as de-escalating problems, distributing donations, and trespassing people when they violate the contracts secured in Adams’ tent.
Douglas County rent assistance program switching to lottery system sooner than planned; applications open
A Douglas County program is switching to a lottery system to distribute funding for residents in need of rent and utility assistance sooner than planned. Applications are open now.
Douglas County rent assistance program to switch to lottery system, lower per-household cap
The Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative is moving away from a first-come, first-served model to distribute funding for residents in need of rent and utility assistance. It will also lower the maximum total payment in order to serve more households.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
Unhoused residents of North Lawrence campsite say city staff members are ‘just eyeballing us,’ have stopped support
Some residents of the North Lawrence campsite for people experiencing homelessness say city staff members have stopped providing basic support, including food and water. It’s causing them to shift their focus to survival, rather than improving their situations.
Lawrence City Commission delays tenant source of income protections to address real estate concerns
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday delayed final action again on an ordinance change that would no longer allow landlords to deny someone housing based solely on their source of income.
Lawrence City Commission to revisit source of income discrimination following meeting for landlords
City leaders are set to revisit a proposed ordinance Tuesday that advocates say could significantly help people in need of housing. The Lawrence City Commission delayed approval last month to seek feedback from landlords about the proposed tenant protections.
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