Our History

The Lawrence Community Shelter was established in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It was founded by two non-profit entities, the Lawrence Open Shelter and the Community Drop-In Center. Both organizations grew and expanded services to the homeless population. Soon both recognized that they could provide a wider and more effective range of care to many of the same people if they merged, forming the Lawrence Community Shelter.

In August 2012, the Lawrence Community Shelter moved from downtown Lawrence to a much larger facility at 3655 East 25th Street. The Committee on Homelessness facilitated several meetings for interested community members and for representatives from the Lawrence Community Shelter to select the new location.

We successfully raised over $3 million to purchase and renovate the property. The relocation provided critical space to house individuals and families and to offer expanded and improved programs fitting with the vision to reduce chronic homelessness in Lawrence and Douglas County. LCS developed an extensive program structure to meet the multiple needs of the complicated and growing homeless population in the community.

The Lawrence Community Shelter is now a leading social service organization in Douglas County and remains focused on reducing homelessness in Lawrence and throughout Douglas County.