The closing of an overflow homeless shelter downtown has the city’s main shelter at 10th and Kentucky streets looking to temporarily double in size.
The Lawrence Community Shelter last weekend operated beyond its 31-bed capacity to avoid turning away upward of 40 people who had been staying at an overflow shelter site across the street at First Christian Church, 1000 Ky.
Members of First Christian Church closed the overflow shelter site on Saturday after the church’s board became concerned about liability issues.
“We just put everybody in the shelter,” said Loring Henderson, executive director of the Lawrence Community Shelter. “It was pretty cozy.”
But Henderson said he believes expanding the capacity of the existing shelter is the most reasonable solution to handling the shortage of bed space created by the closing of the overflow shelter.
The Lawrence Community Shelter has space in its basement that it could use for a sleeping area, but it hasn’t used it because it does not have a fire sprinkler system. Henderson, though, said he believes the building’s sprinkler system feasibly can be expanded to the area.
Henderson said he would like to get up to 40 additional beds in the space.
City inspectors are scheduled to examine the space today to assess whether it would meet necessary safety and fire codes.
Mayor Rob Chestnut said the city understands the unique situation the shelter is facing.
“We want to react to what is going on,” Chestnut said. “We understand that there’s a need for a few more beds, but we have to balance that with protecting the public safety. We’re trying to work with the LCS.”
Commissioners are scheduled to discuss a host of homeless shelter issues at their meeting at 6:35 p.m. today at City Hall.
The shelter in the past has drawn concerns from neighbors and downtown merchants. Chestnut said if the city does allow the shelter to expand its capacity, he doesn’t want people to interpret that as a sign the shelter is in downtown to stay.
“We have to remain committed to recognizing that is not going to be the long-term location for the homeless shelter,” Chestnut said. “I think everybody has agreed that this is not the location to have that kind of critical mass. But in the short term, it is something we may have to do.”
The shelter has been seeking a permanent, larger home for the past several years. At their meeting today, commissioners are expecting an update on how that search process is proceeding.
The shelter’s city-issued operating permit for the 10th and Kentucky location is set to expire next April.
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Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
I think downtown is the best place for a shelter. It is near the soup kitchens, the library, the parks.
The homeless are not a pack of rabid dogs.
I say, so called concerns are not valid, but coming from people looking down on others.
kugrad (anonymous) says…
I disagree. It is precisely because the shelter is so close to the parks and the library and the liquor stores that it isn't the best location. I take my children to those places and I don't think it is in the best interest of children to encounter people sleeping on the park playground benches or cussing up a storm in the library. I don't think it is that great to have drunks sleeping on doorsteps of nearby churches or drinking in South Park.
I live within a short walk of the area. When you get to be able to recognize the drunks by seeing them regularly, what you have is not entirely a homeless shelter, but a drunk support center minus any meaningful counseling.
Before you say I am some heartless bastard looking down on others, let me say this. I understand very well that children are a large portion of the homeless population nationally and in Lawrence. I am 100% in support of helping those families.
That is an entirely different proposition than locating a shelter so that those who choose to live a hobo lifestyle can be as comfortable as possible.
Homeless and looking for work? You deserve a lot of help.
Homeless and looking to avoid working? Sorry, no sympathy for you. Enjoy your lifestyle, I don't care, just don't ask me to pay for it. If the hobo lifestyle isn't working for you, it isn't your only choice. Not everyone homeless on the streets of Lawrence is there because they have no other option. I've lived here for decades and some of the homeless are well known folks who have been here for 20-25 years or more.
So, get off your high horse with phrases like "so-called concerns" because the concerns are real, valid, and often come from experience. What we need are focused efforts to assist families and prevent homelessness in the first place. Forget about trying to resolve the chronics, focus on those who want to get off the streets asap and don't try to tell me that is all of the homeless.
Newell_Post (anonymous) says…
Do you know what is required to get a building permit and certificate of occupancy in Lawrence for a group living situation (such as a fraternity house)? I do. The city building inspection, fire, and planning departments should be instructed to enforce every iota of the codes for these "shelter" occupancies, just like they do for other group living buildings.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
I was once one of those bums sleeping in the park. I would sit down on a bench or at a table and read and nod off.
I usually sat on the bench near the fountain.
I didn't bother anyone, and no one bothered me.
If someone is loud enough in the library to hear them of course they should be shushed and told to leave if they don't comply. Library rules should be enforced for all patrons.
So, I will always take this personally.
If you had saw me back then would you have thought me a threat to you or your children? I wasn't.
Or, would you have thought it charming that an older woman had fallen asleep with a book in her hand?
Not the same thing as a sleeping homeless person at all.
Is it?
journeymanstation (anonymous) says…
Hey kugrad
So you say you you don't want to have to pay to help the community. I would bet you list your kids to get a tax deduction. If I have no children why wouldn't I get a tax deduction? Their not my kids. So you don't want to pay, but its okay for people without kids to put more in taxes for the education of kids.
journeymanstation (anonymous) says…
So get off your high horse kugrad.
Almost everyone can breed. Big deal if you have kids. That exempts you from any type of moral obligations. Part of what the fabric of society is built on. The same moral obligation why your kids are able to get a public education. Thats a moral obligation that I'm sure you wouldn't contest.
Kam_Fong_as_Chin_Ho (anonymous) says…
Instead of "more beds", the goal should be "fewer homeless people". Drive by the Lawrence Communty Shelter on any given day and you will see people just sitting around. Not once will you see anyone looking through the job ads in a newspaper. Same thing with the homeless in the park. A lot of sleeping and excuses, but no effort to change their situation. Check out the story earlier this week about a homeless lady named Cecelia. She pulled herself up by the bootstraps and got her life back on track.
Instead of giving drunks a place to sleep, the shelter should help them find an AA program. They should also have the residents do community work in exchange for shelter.
journeymanstation (anonymous) says…
kam when your driving by what were the homeless doing 1min, or 10 before that. Anyway their are some homeless that don't go out, and look for work. Yes most of them have dual issues. like mental health, and drug abuse. Then their are a few that have true physical impairments. So you speak without really knowing the truth of these things.
Also fbout AA their is one thats right there at the shelter. Great idea,but thats already in place. So how do you keep a dual someone with mental health, and drug issues clean? If you get them to a meeeting thats great. Without treatment for both mental health, and drug, or alchole addiction. That person will go right back to using. Is it their choice to use. I say yes it is their choice. Is it their fualt they are addicts or mentally ill? Those were the genetics given. As well as products of their enviroment they are in.
As for a place to sleep. Are you really serious about not having a safe place for someone to lay their head.
No matter what we do in life. We are helped on the way. You,or I wouldn't be anywhere without getting help. Your employer didn't have to give a job. Someone didn't have to rent you a place, or sell you one. Your friends didn't have to stand by you when needed.
These are times when were all given a hand up. Some people need some extra pull.
debengstrom (Deb Engstrom) says…
" I take my children to those places and I don't think it is in the best interest of children to encounter people sleeping on the park playground benches or cussing up a storm in the library."
I take my children to those places too and I hope that by seeing people sleeping on the park playground benches or cussing up a storm in the library they will develop some compassion and won't be the ones putting up road blocks to every effort to help people in need when they are adults. At ages 5 and 8 they volunteer regularly at LINK and would love to have some peers join them to learn some of the same lessons.
KansasPerson (anonymous) says…
I miss waka.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
Deb, thank you so much. It is people like you that gave me strength and hope to go on when I was out there.
Sure, you might have spotted me napping on a bench on a warm summer day.
But that was after I had done everything I could do, talking to the Housing Authority, going to their classes to get my voucher, attending classes at the Salvation Army.
I am worried about waka now. I hope he all right.
AreUNorml (anonymous) says…
are those diamond studs in Randall's ears? nice bike too.
Keith (anonymous) says…
Folks, you do realize waka was a joke right?
CeeCee (anonymous) says…
AreUNorml ~ I bet he has his $400 Blackberry in his pocket, too!
geekin_topekan (anonymous) says…
This guy can be found in the alley/link/sally/dropin , every day, since 2000 (when I first encountered him there).
Thirty days at sally's is a gross distortion of reality in this case. Thirty days at sally, maybe but at least nine years of utilizing the resources. Nine years.
Not that I care. I love the homelss community but I also feel that they should and will become accountable for their inactivity and failure to look for a different lifestyle. Sooner than later I hope.
By them all a bottle I say!
Carry on.
guardianangel (anonymous) says…
I agree with you KUgrad. Very well said.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
Randall Reed does look pretty snazzy. I think we need to hear more about him.