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Kansan staff
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NEWS MANAGEMENT
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KANSAN.COM/NEWS | MONDAY, FEB. 29, 2016
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Homeless population spikes in Lawrence
A Douglas County point-in-time study reports that the homeless population in Lawrence has increased 20 percent from 2013 to 2015.
/THEKANSAN
Part of the reason why the number has increased, the study states, is because Lawrence offers support and shelter for the homeless. Of the 296 homeless living in Lawrence, 207 are living in a shelter, according to the study.
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MADISON COKER @KansanNews
However, some of the study's results have been called into question.
The study provided a snapshot of the Lawrence homeless community. However, Lawrence Community Shelter officials warn against assuming that a one-night count accurately predicts the local homeless population.
"We don't know all the numbers, but we know that the number keeps going up because of problems like the economy, mental health and addictions," said Sally Bartlett, a Lawrence Community Shelter case manager.
The 2015 January study reported a total of 296
homeless in Lawrence. Of that total, 216 were adults and 80 were children. In 2013, there were 152 homeless adults and 71 children. The numbers in 2011 were similar to 2013. The study is conducted every two years.
Bartlett said the rise in the number of Lawrence homeless is caused by a migration from other communities.
"Seventy percent of the people coming to the Lawrence shelter are from Lawrence," Bartlett said. "The other 30 percent is mainly from areas like Johnson County and Kansas City, Kan."
Plus David Hanzlick director of Sheffield Place, said the study does not accurately count women, which contributes to the inexact head count. Sheffield Place is a transitional housing program for women and children in Kansas City, Mo.
"Nobody knows how many homeless women with children there are because they are not the ones sleeping on the streets," Hanzlick said. "They are trying to protect their children from the streets by sleeping on friends' couches, in cars and in abandoned buildings."
Additionally, Hanzlick said women are more likely to seek traditional housing, counseling and mental help.
Bartlett said generally more women than men stay at the Lawrence shelter.
gram had funding cuts."
Dani Dresslar, Lawrence Community Development Manager, said the city has several programs that provide resources to the homeless, such as the transitional housing program and places to receive food.
Lawrence has a Homeless Issue Advisory Board that addresses issues such as program funding and initiatives to help the homeless population.
The Lawrence Community Shelter moved from downtown Lawrence to a much larger shelter in August 2012. The new shelter is located on the outskirts of Lawrence on 25th Street and can house 170 people, 50 more than the old location.
"There was a jump in numbers when the shelter moved, because it was able to house more people," Dresslar said. "But, there was a decline in transitional housing because the pro-
Dresslar said the amount of funding the city puts into a program generally determines the program's success.
- Edited by Skylar Rolstad
Homeless Population in Lawrence, Kansas
The homeless population in Lawrence is growing every year. Substance abuse, mental illness and laws in other cities are a few reasons why more people are living on the streets in Lawrence.
Graphic by Madison Coker/KANSAN
Lawrence City Commission approves new grant program to draw tourists downtown
TANNER HASSELL
@thassell17
A new grant program approved by the Lawrence City Commission will reassign $150,000 of tax funds for 2016 to support events and programs that help attract travelers and tourists to the city.
According to the guidelines for the new "Transient Guest Tax Grant Program," the funds will come from the six-percent temporary guest tax placed on hotel rooms in Lawrence.
The guideline establishes that no more than 25 percent of any event's budget can come from the grant fund. It also establishes a preference for events and programs put on by Lawrence-based organizations, as well as events that will likely encourage overnight stays.
City Communications Manager and Explore Lawrence Interim Director Megan Gilliland said this program will help fund events that bring people into the community and create an atmosphere for travel and tourism.
"The City Commission created this program in the budget cycle last year to try to funnel any out-of-cycle requests for funding they get into a grant program, so that there's an advisory board that can look over the requests and budget the money ahead of time," Gilliland said.
Gilliland said events like the Fourth of July fireworks display, the Downtown Old Fashioned Parade and Busker Festival, which have received funding from the city in the past, would benefit from this program.
The Lawrence Art Center is considering using the program for events like the festival, said Sarah Bishop, director and ideas programming coordinator for
One event that could potentially benefit from the program is the Free State Festival, an event held in Downtown Lawrence every June since 2011, according to the festival's website.
Free State Festival.
"It seems like there are a few details that need to be worked out, but we're excited that the City is offering this program to help with events in Lawrence," Bishop said. "We won't be applying for funds in the upcoming spring cycle, but we certainly are interested in the program for future events."
Gilliland said that University groups and organizations could also benefit from the program.
Gilliland said that there will be two opportunities for groups to apply for funding through the program. The spring deadline is in March and the fall deadline is in September.
"If there is someone at KU that is trying to bring a conference or an event to Lawrence, I would encourage them to look into this program or to reach out to Explore Lawrence," Gilliland said.
- Edited by Matthew Clough
Lexi Brady/KANSAN A new grant program reassigns $150,000 of tax funds for 2016 to support events and programs that attract travelers and tourists to Lawrence.
Lexi Brady/KANSAN
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