Lawrence.com

This is part of a special project of stories, photos, and video gathered by graduate journalism students in KU’s J840 Communicating Social and Environmental Messages class — will be posted here leading up to this Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, where the potential expansion of Lawrence's only homeless shelter will be on the agenda.

For the 70 homeless people who call the Lawrence Community Shelter home on any given night, home is exactly what it is. It’s a place where they can be safe, rest for the night and work with shelter employees to rebuild self-esteem and a life of self-sufficiency.

Robin, also known as “Mom,” has been at the shelter with her husband Robert for two months. Robin’s not an alcoholic or a drug addict. She’s just “down on her luck,” as she explains.

A middle-aged woman with grown children, this is the first time in her life she has not had a place of her own to call home. Robin is an active member of the shelter who attends the Coalition for Homeless Concern’s monthly meetings to advocate the importance of the shelter, not only for the homeless, but also for the City of Lawrence.

“What some don’t realize is that shutting the shelter down creates a problem, not a solution,” says Robin. The shelter is currently home to 70 people, about 1/6 of Lawrence’s homeless population.

Robin wants people to think about the kind of living conditions and opportunities they would need if they were suddenly without a place to live.

“How are you supposed to interview for a job if you haven’t showered, had anything to eat or had a good night’s sleep?” The shelter provides all of this—comforts often taken for granted by those who have never experienced homelessness.

Robin’s not alone when it comes to campaigning for the importance of the shelter. Many residents have written letters to community members to explain the current overcrowded conditions of the shelter.

“People don’t know how bad it is here right now,” explains Tracy, a shelter resident. Tracy is one of many residents who have written letters expressing their concerns for the shelter. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but it’s awful with the overcrowding,” she explains.

With the Salvation Army now closed, guests of the LCS often sleep only six inches apart from each other. Many times people are awakened by others next to them moving in their sleep or getting up throughout the night. The shelter tries to provide even more help by allowing up to 30 overflow people to sleep outside under the canopy and in the shelter’s parking lot. What makes the situation even worse is that the downstairs portion of the shelter is currently undergoing renovations to bring the building up to fire code. This space, which can normally sleep 16 people, has been forced to close until codes are met. Currently the basement serves as an overflow storage area for guests’ belongings.

The shelter’s overcrowding problem has increased stress and tension levels for its guests, employees and volunteers. As these stress levels increase and sleeping space decreases, guests of the shelter are taking action, by trying to inspire community members to see their benefit to the Lawrence community.

Good Dog! is an entrepreneurial business run by shelter residents that produces dog treats, gift bags and travel sets. The business allows residents to earn money and build job skills. Additional money brought in from sales of Good Dog! products is put back into the business to develop further product lines. These products are available for purchase in many Lawrence area retail stores, including Pet World, The Merc, and the Hy-Vee on Clinton Parkway.

Residents also work to keep the shelter running on a minimal budget. Robin and her husband Robert work the front desk at the shelter as a way to build their resumes.

As an ongoing effort to keep the shelter clean, the “Magic Shoe” is a nightly lottery drawing that allows residents to complete housekeeping duties in exchange for a guaranteed spot in the shelter the next night. Only four jobs are available, including one person to clean showers and bathrooms, two people to clean sleeping mats and one person to take out trash and clean tables.

As residents work to take care of themselves and the shelter through these programs, they have become family. Much like divorce can separate a family, shutting down the shelter would have the same affect. In the short time Robin has been at the shelter, she has earned her name as “Mom” for her ability to take care of others. Two other women at the shelter have been given the names “Mamacita” and “Mama,” as a testament to the family bond that is shared between shelter guests.

Even after guests leave the shelter, some maintain relationships with other guests and employees and occasionally bring small gifts of thanks to the shelter for their appreciation.

The LCS provides much more than a meal and a roof over someone’s head at night. They offer a space where individuals can gather, talk and build relationships with one another. As important as food and shelter are, personal relationships are just as significant for a person’s wellbeing. Psychologist Abraham Maslow states a person’s physiological, safety, social and esteem needs have to be met before that person can move onto self-actualization. The LCS provides these first four essential needs to help homeless community members get on the road to recognizing their own potential.

LCS guests want the community to know that shutting down the shelter or restricting its ability to expand will only make problems worse. If the shelter is not allowed to expand, the problem of overcrowding will not go away. If the shelter is shut down, the chance for the current homeless population to reenter the community as self-sufficient citizens will be an even bigger uphill battle for them.

The solution to the problem is to help, not ignore. The solution to the problem is to accept, not deny. The guests of the LCS want to be active in the community, they just need the community of Lawrence’s acceptance to continue to do so.

All stories on the Lawrence Community Shelter collected by KU's Communicating Social and Environmental Messages class:

• Gimme shelter: your call (Aug. 1)

• Gimme shelter: More than a chance encounter, a choice (Aug. 2)

• Gimme shelter: The Lawrence Community Shelter family (Aug. 3)

• Gimme shelter: Community leaders (Aug. 4)

• A walk through Lawrence's only shelter for the homeless (photogallery)

• Talking with supporters of the Lawrence Community Shelter (audio interviews)

• Homeless in Lawrence: More than you may know (video)