November 29, 2004

City Commissioners

City of Lawrence

Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Commissioners:

This letter refers to James Schneider’s letter of November 29 opposing the pending request of the Lawrence Open Shelter (LOS) for a five-year occupancy permit of its premises at 944 Kentucky and, conditionally, expansion of the shelter to add up to 10 sleeping spaces.

Mr. Schneider’s letter erroneously describes the program of the Lawrence Open Shelter and the positions of its board of directors.   It has been and still is the stated second part of the mission of LOS to help its guests access “a path to a positive future”.  This “path” is generally accepted as a program or series of programs for the guests designed to move them to housing, a job, better health, or any number of goals as determined by the guest and their case manager.  LOS has never wavered from this part of its mission but it is the second part to be implemented as funds become available.  The first part of the LOS mission is to provide a safe shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness and it is this goal that LOS, as a new organization struggling to secure basic funding, has focussed on in its first year and in its current limited space.

The board of LOS has never framed its position as one that allows guests unlimited time to choose a program. At this time, within its restricted role as a small night shelter, LOS works with its guests to the extent possible and is ready to help them in various ways at any time.  Even though funding is not yet available and counseling and other supportive services for LOS guests are primarily a function of referrals to existing organizations such as the Community Drop-In Center, Bert Nash Community Health Center, and detox/rehab programs in Topeka and Kansas City, it has been always the policy of the LOS board to conduct an intake on the first night a guest arrives at the shelter and to move them as soon as possible into any program available that might help them with their particular issues.

The policy of requiring a guest to move into a program within three working days is not relevant to the current LOS program nor to the request for occupancy.  The three-day limit has been a topic of discussion within the Task Force on Homeless Services and has not been discarded or approved.  It has not been formally discussed by the board of LOS and the board has not stated that it would not go along with such a requirement.  In fact, they have made no statement regarding the Task Force recommendations.  They only asked for a discussion of the whole proposal and how the three-day guideline would fit with resources being made available to LOS to implement any Task Force recommendations.  When I said in discussions with the Program Development Committee of the Task Force that I was getting concerns from the board about this part of the plan and that I needed more time to draft a shelter plan appropriate to Lawrence, Mr. Schneider misinterpreted my comment and proceeded to make his incorrect statement in his letter.  It is important to note, too, that the LOS board at its September 15, 2004 planning retreat listed as a goal for 2005 to “insure that each guest has an individual plan to gain a healthier future”, depending on staff resources to work at this depth with the guests.

City Commissioners

November 29, 2004                                                                                                         page 2

Mr. Schneider, unfortunately, mixes many things in his letter that are being discussed within the Task Force as part of a future plan with the immediate request for LOS occupancy in its limited space with its limited resources.

It is difficult to address the point in Mr. Schneider’s letter that “LOS’ present programming structure has [caused] …an increase in street homelessness”.   It is a non sequitor to say that taking people off of the streets and providing for them in a certain location leads to an increase in homelessness in another part of town.  Mr. Schneider’s point is not documented and can’t be responded to in the space of this letter.  It is likely to be discussed during and after the public meetings the Task Force is scheduling for January to receive comments on its draft plan.  The survey of homeless individuals to be conducted by the HMIS committee of the Housing Practitioner’s Panel in January may also give some information on this concern.

Approving a five-year occupancy for the LOS at its current address does not obviate the ability of the city to ask for information annually and to review the permit at any time.  The board and staff of the Lawrence Open Shelter encourage communication with its neighbors and with the full Lawrence community. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Loring Henderson                                                                     

Director