Lawrence Open Shelter Inc. officials say they’re close to being able to open a shelter for homeless people who drink.

There’s only one obstacle: The organization needs money — on top of the $10,000 it already has in the bank — to get started.

“As soon as we can get about $20,000 more than we have, then we can open the doors,” said Dudley Crow, the organization’s president. “Until that time, we can’t keep it open long enough to make a difference.”

The announcement comes at the same time the president of the Lawrence Coalition for Homeless Concerns has renewed her efforts to have the city make the Carnegie Library available as a temporary shelter.

Hilda Enoch said Lawrence city commissioners rejected her earlier attempt in November because Salvation Army Administrator Rich Forney said his organization would offer an alternative with the Lawrence Open Shelter within two weeks.

That promise never came to fruition, Crow said, because of lack of money.

“Our community has, still, an emergency on our hands, with vulnerable people on our streets without shelter, and weather conditions soon to be dire,” Enoch wrote in a letter to commissioners.

There appears to be no will on the commission to open up the Carnegie as a temporary shelter, however. Officials said doing so would create safety problems for residents and subject the city to liability problems.

“As to whether or not the Carnegie ought to be used, I won’t support that,” Mayor Sue Hack said Friday. “I don’t think it’s showing good stewardship for the building.”

The Salvation Army, 946 N.H., already offers a year-round shelter supported by city funding but does not admit people who have been drinking. Lawrence Open Shelter Inc. has offered several summertime shelters at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church for homeless who drink, but the organization has been unable to create a permanent alternative.

But Crow said his organization is in negotiations with Lawrence landlord James Dunn to use the building occupied during the days by the Community Drop-In Center, 214 W. 10th St.

Paying for rent, staff, insurance and other necessities will cost about $9,000 a month, Crow said. He said the organization needs enough money to keep the shelter running through the winter.

“We have a great need in the community to house people that can’t be housed at the Salvation Army,” Crow said.

The building could hold 30 people a night, Crow said. He said the open shelter would probably be full most nights.

“Most of them need some kind of counseling, some kind of help dealing with multiple personality disorders,” he said.

If private donations can be found, he said, the organization will have an easier time attracting grants to continue operations.

“If we would have a facility and be open, we’d be more attractive to the granting agencies than when we’re not open and trying to get open,” Crow said.

Enoch will make her case for using the Carnegie at the city commission’s next meeting, 3 p.m. Monday in City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.