photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Lawrence City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., is pictured on Jan. 31, 2023.

Updated at 3:10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023

The City of Lawrence is looking to purchase a property to serve as a site for modular homes and a longer-term campsite for people experiencing homelessness. However, the site is not expected to open for a couple of months, and the city plans to extend the use of a campsite in North Lawrence as a result.

In December, the City Commission approved spending $4.5 million in federal pandemic relief aid to create a site with 75 modular homes for people experiencing homelessness. The modular homes include heating and cooling, and the “village” site will include restrooms, laundry, shower facilities and community gathering and support service offices. In an emailed response to questions, city spokesman Porter Arneill said the city is currently negotiating to acquire property that will be used to house the modular home village and longer-term camping. Arneill said the city could not yet share the location of the site, but would share more details ahead of the commission meeting where the contract is presented for consideration.

“Due to the nature of contract negotiations, the City is waiting to disclose the location until we have a contract to share with City Commission for their review and approval,” Arneill said in the email.

The commission has recently met in executive session “to discuss the possibility of acquiring real property,” but no details have yet been shared publicly. Arneill said the city planned to have both components of the site operational by June. Previously, the city had stated that the goal was to stop operating the campsite in North Lawrence and begin operating the new, longer-term campsite by about mid-March. Arneill said the campsite would likely stay open beyond the March date, as the city will keep the site open until the establishment of the new modular home village and the longer-term camping site in June.

Community members have expressed concern about the level of support at the North Lawrence campsite, and city staff said earlier this month that the city planned to hire more staff to provide 24/7 support for those living there. Arneill said the city has not yet been able to provide 24/7 on-site support, but that recruitment is active for those positions and the city has received several applications from interested community members.

“We’re rapidly adding people to our team and anticipate adding even more staff within the next few weeks,” he said.

The city is also operating an emergency shelter at the Community Building in downtown Lawrence for the winter season. Arneill said the city would end that program on March 12 as previously planned, as the building will be needed for Parks and Recreation programming that begins following spring break. However, he said the city was evaluating alternative “emergency shelter solutions” that would be available from March 12 until the opening of the modular home village and longer-term camping site in June.

The Journal-World asked if the city could provide any other information about the alternatives being evaluated, and specifically whether they consist of other nonshelter buildings owned by the city, or could also include increasing the number of beds offered at the Lawrence Community Shelter in eastern Lawrence. Arneill did not provide additional details but said the city would share information about alternative interim emergency shelter options as soon as it is able. City staff informed the commission earlier this month that they have begun discussions to build a much stronger connection between the city and the LCS, including the potential of a merger.