Sheltered Homelessness Rises in Douglas County | Lawrence News

Douglas County’s latest homeless count reveals a 21% surge in sheltered residents—303 people, up from 238 last year—but city officials caution against jumping to conclusions. The spike coincides with the suspension of residency requirements for shelters and brutally cold weather, which drove more people indoors. While 40% of overflow shelter guests and 15% at main shelters weren’t local residents, unsheltered counts actually fell to 39—down from 52—suggesting many who might sleep outside were instead in shelters. With budget cuts looming, the city faces tough choices on how to safely house non-residents during winter storms, decisions that will soon require community input. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3a5d854f2e3c3c92