photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Lawrence's Santa Fe train depot at Seventh and New Jersey streets is pictured Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.

The City of Lawrence announced late Thursday afternoon that the Santa Fe train depot is one of a few additional winter sheltering options set to be available for those in need during the upcoming subzero temperatures.

In a news release, the city announced it’s opening the depot as an overflow shelter in anticipation of the Lawrence Community Shelter — located about 4 miles away at the eastern edge of the city — reaching its maximum capacity of 140 beds Thursday night. According to the release, the Santa Fe depot can accommodate 40 overnight guests, who will be provided with bedding to sleep.

The depot was first floated as a potential winter emergency sheltering option at Tuesday’s Lawrence City Commission meeting, when city leaders heard more about that and other options following the first burst of inclement winter weather early this week. At that time, the City Commission didn’t take any immediate action to initiate opening the depot sooner.

The release notes that the Santa Fe shelter will be staffed predominantly by city employees who typically work at Camp New Beginnings, the city-sanctioned homeless camp in North Lawrence, but it’s also anticipated that volunteer opportunities will be available. The city is also working with Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center’s Homeless Outreach Team to ensure everyone staying at a known campsite location around the city is given an opportunity to relocate indoors.

That’s not the only additional emergency sheltering option made available for Thursday night. The release notes that First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St., is also opening a volunteer-run emergency shelter that will accommodate up to 20 people based on referrals from LCS.

Another option floated at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting is also in play — Bert Nash is providing hotel rooms for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who are unable to shelter at LCS. At Tuesday’s meeting, city staff said that capability is funded through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

Thursday’s release also notes that LCS is able to accommodate pets for anyone seeking overnight shelter, and that the city will continue to share information about emergency shelter response throughout the coming days.

If you need help or know someone who needs help finding shelter overnight, the city encourages contacting Homeless Programs Coordinator Misty Bosch-Hastings at 785-760-1481 or Homeless Programs Project Specialist Cicely Thornton at 785-813-9483.