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.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
With dangerously cold temperatures in the forecast over the next several days, the Community Building will be open around the clock if the city can get enough volunteers.
Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, about a dozen people stood outside Lawrence’s Winter Emergency Shelter, waiting for it to open. But some people experiencing homelessness don’t want to stay there.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
With the Winter Emergency Shelter opening next week, city officials plan to reevaluate the need for the temporary support camp in North Lawrence soon.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s winter emergency shelter, which has housed nearly 200 individuals at the Community Building for the season’s coldest overnights, will close after Tuesday, March 1.
Winter weather is headed toward Douglas County and the rest of northeast Kansas. Douglas County could see anywhere from 3 to 7 inches of snow accumulation.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
The city’s winter emergency shelter is in dire need of volunteers to staff the Community Building on nights when the temperature drops below 35°. Part-time positions paying $18 per hour are also available.
With temperatures dropping, Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved a necessary step to help provide winter emergency shelter for those in need.
