We believe every person deserves access to safe and affordable housing and the essential services that help them thrive. Our team works with our community members and partners to establish policies and services that will end chronic homelessness in Lawrence and Douglas County.
A Place for Everyone
A Place for Everyone is the community plan for Lawrence and Douglas County to end chronic homelessness. Our goal: By 2028, we will create a system that achieves functional zero through policy, system, and environmental changes resulting in all Douglas County residents having access to the fundamental human right of safe, accessible, attainable, and affordable housing, and in which homelessness is a rare and brief occurrence.
The goals of this plan are formulated in five work areas being addressed:
- Equity and Inclusion
- Affordable Housing
- Supportive Housing
- Systems
- Emergency Shelter and Services
We’ve identified an overwhelming need to increase availability in these three categories of shelter:
- Affordable Housing
- Emergency Shelter
- Supportive Housing
As we work to increase affordable housing, emergency shelter and services, and supportive housing, we need to be intentional in the way we do the work. Equity & Inclusion and Systems are the two primary considerations to how we do our work.
More information and the goals of each work area are detailed in the Homelessness Report.
Homelessness Report(PDF, 5MB)
Community Resources
Do you know someone in need of shelter? Contact our emergency helpline to get in touch with a member of our team: (785) 813-9483. We work with our partners to find safe, indoor shelter for any Douglas County resident in need.
How it works: The Homeless Response Team engages with every person staying in places not meant for human habitation and gives opportunities for individuals to relocate indoors.
Our community has a variety of resources available to help Douglas County residents in need. A comprehensive list can be found in our Community Resources Guide.
Community Resources Guide(PDF, 206KB)
Campsite Reporting Form
Emergency Shelter Solutions
To achieve functional zero with homelessness, our community needs to have sufficient options available at every stage of the Douglas County Housing Continuum. Within this continuum, the City of Lawrence is focused on ensuring our community has enough emergency shelter and enough affordable housing. Our community partners are taking the lead on other housing continuum options.
Lawrence and Douglas County Housing Needs Continuum
- Emergency Shelter
Temporary, short-term housing for individuals experiencing homelessness
- Transitional Housing
Temporary housing assistance that helps individuals transition from homelessness to permanent housing
- Supportive Housing
Affordable housing coupled with supportive services that enable residents to stay healthy and housed
- Affordable Rental Housing
Temporary, short-term housing for individuals experiencing homelessness
- Affordable Homeownership
Long-term/permanent housing assistance that uses rental subsidies to make the rent affordable to the tenant
- Market Rate Housing
No house subsidy or assistance
The Village
The City of Lawrence is working with the Lawrence Community Shelter to operate The Village at 256 N. Michigan St. The Village provides 50 units of non-congregate short term emergency shelter in a supportive setting. The Village is an emergency shelter that provides a pathway to sustainable housing for Douglas County residents experiencing homelessness. The emergency shelters include heating and cooling and are integrated with restrooms, laundry, showers and community gathering and support service offices.
The Village is currently operational with new residents moving in and adapting. Day-to-day shelter operations are managed by Lawrence Community Shelter.
Lawrence Community Shelter
The Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS) is the primary emergency shelter for Lawrence. The City of Lawrence works closely and provides funding to LCS to assist with their operations. More information on LCS is on the Lawrence Community Shelter website.