photo by: Shawn Valverde

The Lawrence Community Shelter, 3655 E. 25th St., is pictured on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.

Now that Lawrence voters have approved expanding a sales tax that funds housing and homelessness services in the city, nonprofits say they’re feeling grateful for the community’s support.

On Tuesday, 53.32% of Lawrence voters voted “yes” on a ballot question to raise the city’s affordable housing sales tax from 0.05% to 0.10%, according to the unofficial results from the Douglas County elections office. The ballot initiative was approved by the City Commission in August as part of the budget discussions for 2025, as the Journal-World reported. The sales tax increase would add an extra nickel in tax to every $100 in purchases made by consumers in Lawrence.

Lawrence city officials previously told the Journal-World that the additional sales tax would be crucial to continue to fund the city’s Homeless Solutions Division. The division would have had a $1.25 million shortfall if the referendum didn’t pass, and city spokesperson Cori Wallace said the additional sales tax was intended primarily to address that potential shortfall.

The approval of the additional sales tax means the city can continue many of its initiatives that provide shelter, mental health and addiction services and address people’s immediate needs such as food and water.

Local nonprofits that partner with the city in its “A Place for Everyone” plan to end chronic homelessness say the vote signals the public support for their efforts.

One nonprofit that’s encouraged by the vote is Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, whose homeless outreach team helps people obtain IDs and other documentation and connects them with resources in the community. Mathew Faulk, the director of housing at Bert Nash, said that by “endowing the City of Lawrence” with more resources, the tax would help the network of service providers in the community coordinate better to “improve services and reduce homelessness.”

Lacee Roe, the director of community engagement for the Lawrence Community Shelter, said the tax’s resources would benefit the organization and the community as a whole, with the LCS just being “one part of the larger plan” to end chronic homelessness.

Roe said LCS did not take lightly the fact that Lawrence voters were being asked to raise taxes to support the plan. With the passage of the tax, Roe said it felt like the community had sent a message of support.

“We feel that this vote demonstrates our community’s commitment to both affordable housing and the support of neighbors facing homelessness,” Roe said. “We are truly grateful, and proud to be part of this community.”