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The City of Lawrence on Tuesday announced new details about its policy to use homeless resources primarily to help people in Douglas County and send others elsewhere.
Under this arrangement, the city will provide short-term assistance to “non-resident homeless” and help them return to their “place of origin,” according to a city press release. Service providers working with the city are expected to follow suit.
“We do not provide long-term care to people who cannot prove that they live here, and that will be reflected in our contracts in the future because we simply do not have the bandwidth for it,” Misty Bosch-Hastings, director of the city’s homeless services department, said at a meeting last month.
The measure has been publicly discussed for at least a month, but the official announcement came a week after the Lawrence City Commission approved adding a ballot question to the ballot asking Lawrence voters to approve a sales tax to support homeless services.
The majority of homeless people who agreed to participate in the survey at this time in January reported living in Lawrence or Douglas County for at least 12 months, according to data from Kristen Egan, the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition’s regional coordinator for Douglas County.
Of the 414 respondents to this year’s survey, 289, or 71%, said they had been in Douglas County for more than 12 months; 51, or 13%, said they had been here for seven to 12 months; and 69, or 17%, said they had been here for zero to six months.
“Our new policy ensures that we prioritize Douglas County residents while providing short-term assistance to people from other areas,” Bosch-Hastings said in the city’s press release. “By focusing on local needs and providing non-residents with a path to return home, we can effectively manage our resources and help more people find stability. This approach reflects our commitment to compassionate, practical solutions for all in need.”
James Chiselom, director of the Lawrence Community Shelter, said in May that LCS already has a policy of only allowing three-day short-term stays for people with no ties to Douglas County. He said LCS does not require ID, but they get enough information from people to verify their identity and determine if they are from Lawrence. Shelter staff can check the HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) to see if people are on records there.
When members of the interdisciplinary Homeless Response Team encounter someone who is not from Lawrence or Douglas County, they follow a five-step process to help that person relocate, the city’s press release states:
1. Initial assessment and temporary support: “Homeless people who are not resident in the country and are seeking assistance will undergo an initial assessment by the Homeless Response Team and, if eligible, will be able to access emergency accommodation, meals and basic services for three working days. The Homeless Response Team will then refer the appropriate agencies for services once the eligibility assessment is complete.”
2. Development of a return plan: “If individuals are eligible for transportation, the Homeless Response Team will arrange transportation and coordinate any necessary support services. It will also provide a means of contact with appropriate agencies in the home community if needed.”
3. Coordination with the resources of the city of origin: “The Homeless Response Team will work to identify the individual and connect them with appropriate resources and services in their hometown.”
4. Transport aid: “Efforts are being made to find the most cost-effective and safest transportation options.”
5. Documentation and tracking: “All actions taken, plans developed and assistance provided are documented by the Homeless Response Team. The team conducts follow-up checks to ensure that the person is achieving their goal and that a link has been made to their natural support or service.”
The HRT includes staff from the City of Lawrence, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Artists Helping the Homeless, Lawrence Community Shelter, Homeless Resource Center, Lawrence Police Department, and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about her work for The Times here. Read her staff bio here.
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