Lawrence city leaders voted unanimously Tuesday night,, December 18th, to approve nearly $2.7 million in city funding for the Lawrence Community Shelter as part of an updated funding agreement for 2024. The commission approved the funding to help provide emergency winter shelter programs and to fund operations at the new pallet home community for people experiencing homelessness.
The “village” of small prefabricated cabins is under construction on Michigan Street on the northern edge of the city. About half of the money, approximately $1.5 million, is coming from the city’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act Federal Funding. The remainder is coming from the city’s special Alcohol Fund and General Fund. This comes on the heels of information saying the city’s homeless population has increased 51% in the past year alone, quadruple the national average.
