The local homeless response team is asking churches and organizations to offer people a warm place to sleep this winter, rather than opening community buildings that have been used in the past.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
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
With the worst of the extreme weather behind us — at least for now — Lawrence’s overflow winter emergency shelters will close for the time being, effective Wednesday morning.
The numbers of people seeking emergency winter shelter have “significantly increased” since extreme weather hit last week, and the City of Lawrence announced Tuesday plans for a third overflow shelter to open.
From grassroots organizations to the Lawrence Community Shelter, there are numerous ways to support those who need help as the area sees dangerously cold temperatures in the coming days.
The City of Lawrence plans to keep the Amtrak station in East Lawrence open 24 hours a day through the extreme cold temperatures and wind chills the area will see over the next few days.
Amid the heavy snowfall and more severe weather in the forecast for Lawrence, city commissioners on Tuesday discussed but took no action to expand emergency sheltering options for people experiencing homelessness.
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.
Lawrence’s indoor Winter Emergency Shelter will close after Sunday night, and then the Community Building will be closed for maintenance.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are looking for supplies and volunteer help as snow and dangerously cold wind chills approach Lawrence.
