Bart Littlejohn

Housing - Affordability, Availability, Accessibility
Seriously consider all options which could increase affordable single and multi family
housing throughout the city. Our lack of affordable and available housing limits opportunities
for tenants and homeowners who wish to expand their families, those who want to build
personal equity, and our work to transition folks from houselessness into housing.

Houselessness – 

• ​We have been able to match folks to resources and to help five outdoor camps get started on a housing pathway; North Lawrence (Johnnys) and East Lawrence (Amtrack) last year in my time as mayor; and helped Broken Arrow, Burcham, and Sandra Shaw this year.

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• From this year to last year we have both reduced the point in time count and reduced the amount of folks experiencing persistent homelessness by 63%! (by almost 100, with 81% of population being a resident of Lawrence for over a year)​

  • Places like Palm Springs, CA – had 63% reduction over 3yrs

  • Denver, CO – had 45% reduction over 2yrs

  • Lawrence, KS - We did it in 12 months

    • Columbia, MO op-ed has cited us as making progress and aspires to emulates our practices: https://www.comobuz.com/government/lawrence-reducing-homelessness-why-not-columbia/article_c4972fd2-fa93-423d-99bb-fc28a76c0a74.html​

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• We have expanded the capacity of the Lawrence Community Shelter both in the main building and with temporary shelters on site so that have more tools to properly assist those whose are houseless.  Additionally, we have a plan in place to gradually decrease the dependence on the city as a primary funding source so that they can follow a path to sustainability.

Housing –

• We have established a comprehensive housing plan “A Place for Everyone” https://lawrenceks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/homelessness-report.pdf in conjunction with the county,  social services, and other community organizations to provide a framework for anyone in the housing continuum. We want to make sure that folks do not fall into houselessness/keep them in their homes and produce enough available housing so people can either rent or own their own shelter.  The plan entails: 

  • An innovative plan - We have established so much momentum and success that other cities/counties are reaching out to us b/c they are planning to enact plans of their own.​

  • Also, we want to do more to build up the  missing middle

    • ​A part of that is our work on the Affordable Housing Incentive Policy

      • ​It’s in the draft stage right now but more information will be coming in November

      • The goal is find more ways work with our community partners to get more affordable housing up and running​​

  • It’s goal is create more affordable housing, supportive housing, and emergency housing

  • Also how it fits in the continuum of housing: Getting out the unsafe conditions of camping into Emergency Shelter – Transitional Housing – Supportive Housing – Affordable Rental Housing - Affordable Homeownership – Market Rate Housing

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• ​We got multiple projects in the pipeline that have received funding from the city for affordable housing, supportive housing, and programs to help keep folks in their homes: https://www.lawrenceks.org/pds/affordable-housing/trust-fund/

  • ​Going back to 2015 to 2020 we were funding/supporting up to 50 units per year of affordable housing development.  After then till now, we are up to 400 units per year.

  • Check out our Affordable Housing Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7da73a8d4a8141e08ebe29b598515b6b/page/New-Development-Projects

  • Floret Hill – Tenants to Homeowners – Affordable housing project – West side of town (2024)