March 24, 2009

Senator Sam Brownback

303 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC  20510

Dear Senator Brownback: 

At its regular meeting of March 24, 2009, the Lawrence City Commission expressed its support of a federal earmark request of $600,000 for a homeless shelter relocation submitted by the Lawrence Community Shelter, Inc.  The request will help meet a severe local need for adequate shelter as another organization in Lawrence that has been providing emergency sleeping space for the homeless is closing its shelter facility on May 1, 2009.  After that time, Lawrence Community Shelter will be the sole provider of emergency shelter in the community.  

At this time, the City Commission does not support a specific location.  The City believes an appropriations request for relocation is in keeping with the federal HUD goal of reducing chronic homelessness in the United States and assists in providing adequate space for emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness in Lawrence.  The most recent estimate indicates that 373 individuals and families in the Lawrence area experience homelessness on a given day.  

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Michael Dever

Mayor

C:       City Commission

          David L. Corliss, City Manager

          Loring Henderson, Director, Lawrence Community Shelter, Inc.