photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The city-run campsite for people experiencing homelessness, pictured Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, is in the process of shutting down.

The City of Lawrence confirmed in a news release Tuesday morning that it’s begun to transition people from the city-managed campsite in North Lawrence for those experiencing homelessness to the city’s Winter Emergency Shelter, 115 E. 11th St., and will open an overflow overnight shelter in East Lawrence instead of continuing to manage the camp.

As the Journal-World reported Monday afternoon, the city had started clearing the campsite in preparation for closing. The city also confirmed Tuesday that its Homeless Programs Team has been transitioning 10 to 15 people at a time in a phased approach that is set for completion by the end of January.

“While the Homeless Programs Team initially considered keeping the support site in North Lawrence open concurrently with the (Winter Emergency Shelter), much has been learned from the support site about what the full need is in our community,” the release reads. “With this and colder weather forecasted, the team has determined it would be best to refocus resources on the opening of an overflow overnight shelter to accommodate people in need of an indoor sheltering space as the weather turns colder.”

photo by: Shawn Valverde

Sharon Miller, a volunteer with the faith-based advocacy group Justice Matters, helps check people in at the Winter Emergency Shelter at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., on Dec. 1, 2022.

The Winter Emergency Shelter has a 75-bed capacity, and the city has designated the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St., as an overflow overnight shelter with an additional 40 beds available if needed.

Everyone currently living at the campsite will be given a minimum of 72 hours of notice when they need to leave the site, the release said. Camp resident Jennifer Adams told the Journal-World Monday that she first heard about the notices a few days ago.

The city’s release also notes that city support at the site will be removed by the end of January, which means bringing the property back to its original state. The release further clarifies that this includes removing tents, trailers, fencing, port-a-johns, trash containers and dumpsters, as well as any other property discarded by current campers. City staff support will also be removed, allowing the Homeless Programs Team to focus on longer-term solutions to homelessness and affordable housing. However, the release also notes that the North Lawrence campsite will remain an approved area for unsheltered individuals to camp if there are no alternative shelter options available to them.