Exposure to low temperatures is associated with deadly risks like hypothermia or frostbite, which, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, kills over 700 unhoused people a year.
When Douglas County Emergency Management determines the weather to be dangerous, members of the city’s Homeless Response Team make sure all individuals at known campsites are given the opportunity to stay at one of their shelter locations. The Lawrence Community Shelter expands the number of beds in their facility from 140 to 190 and opens temporary shelters holding 25 beds set up at agreed-upon churches across the city.
Misty Bosch-Hastings, the Director of the Homeless Solutions Division, said the city sets up overflow shelters to ensure that all of the estimated 350 unhoused residents of Lawrence are not subjected to life threatening conditions when beds in their main shelters come up short.
“Our emergency overflow shelters ensure that even when the primary shelter [LCS] reaches capacity, no one is left without a safe, warm place to stay,” Bosch-Hastings said. “This reflects our community’s commitment to caring for all residents.”
To coordinate this and fully staff the shelters, many volunteers beyond the trained Homeless Response Team are required. During the colder months, a majority of volunteers, like junior Taryn Jones, help with the preparation and distribution of food to guests.
“It was definitely a valuable experience for me,” Jones said. “It opened my eyes seeing how many individuals came into the shelter to get warm food.”
Previously, the city used recreational buildings for overflow shelters but has recently made the switch to partnering with churches that can house people to free up those community spaces and more comfortably accommodate the unhoused.
“By partnering with local churches for overflow shelter space, we’ve been able to offer shelter services without disrupting recreational activities, benefiting both shelter guests and the broader community,” Bosch-Hastings said.
In order to make things as easy as possible for the churches, the city provides all the basic materials needed and has its own Emergency Shelter staff process and transport the individuals. Representative for the University Community of Christ Linda Loving said that the help to prepare has allowed them to be ready and on stand-by for a weather emergency at any time.
“We found it was a blessing for us to make our space available to those in need. The city and other agencies are so organized and made it really simple for us to provide this needed
Space,” Loving said.
Since all of the basic materials are provided, the churches are able to focus on the details to make their guest’s stay as comfortable as possible. The congregation hand prepares meals as well as setting up games and movies as well as just the beds.
“Our goal is to make our guests feel loved and welcomed,” Loving said. “We are honored to be able to help our brothers and sisters in a time of need.”
