The Lawrence city manager gave city staff and commissioners an update Tuesday on the winter weather shelter program, which is anticipating demand of about 200 people and so far only has the capacity for 40. The commission also discussed a $1.5M soccer field project.
The Douglas County Commission approved new funding toward addressing local homelessness and discussed federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act at Wednesday’s meeting.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
Joe Reitz, who helped start Family Promise of Lawrence, said the organization was providing emergency shelter and services to nearly two dozen families prior to the coronavirus outbreak. More recently, he said, the nonprofit was struggling to care for more than 85 families.
Drone Lawrence/dronelawrence.com
A new COVID-19 emergency health order to address risk of spread in congregate housing and two homelessness needs assessments are among the topics to be discussed at the Douglas County Commission’s Wednesday meeting.
A new fund from the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority aims to reduce high barriers for people to get housing by spurring landlords to loosen some screening requirements and agree to lease their units.
Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector
A new eviction moratorium issued by the CDC should cover most Kansas renters, but stakeholders and advocates agree it is only a temporary solution demanding further action.
Updated at 11:04 p.m. Friday: Starting Saturday, there will be no federal legal protections in place to stop evictions, which could mean a lot of people will lose housing. If you’re at risk in Lawrence, here are some resources to help.
Updated at 10:51 p.m. Friday: Congressional Democrats unsuccessfully scrambled on Friday to extend federal legal protections against eviction that will expire on Saturday.
Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector
Homeless shelters in Kansas metro areas are already seeing more requests for housing in the days after legislative leaders lifted a statewide ban on evictions.
Dan Rockhill
An open house for Monarch Village will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Mask up and come take a tour of the latest Studio 804 project that will provide temporary noncongregate housing for many folks who need it.
