Affordable Housing

The City’s new permitting and licensing software, Enterprise Permitting & Licensing (EPL) is now live.

The City of Lawrence strives to create a community where all enjoy life and feel at home.
In order to advance the health, safety, and welfare of all residents, it is our goal that all persons in the community have access to safe, affordable housing and the supportive services necessary to maintain independent living with dignity.


WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

Affordable housing is housing that a household can pay for, while still having money left over for other necessities like food, transportation, and health care. The federal government defines housing as affordable when it consumes no more than 30% of a household’s income. Therefore, what’s considered “affordable” depends on a household’s income.

The price that is affordable may vary, but the need for housing that is affordable is the same for everyone.

Unfortunately, a growing share of the population cannot afford its housing costs. Locally, almost half (49%) of all renters and one in four homeowners are “housing insecure”, meaning they are cost burdened from their housing. The lowest-income households are the most likely to be severely cost burdened, but even moderate income earners in Lawrence struggle to find affordable  housing.

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund supports the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing for low and moderate income households.

The City of Lawrence utilizes the following definitions for housing affordability:

  1. Households spending 30% or less of monthly gross income on housing (mortgage/rent plus taxes and utilities);
  2. Rental housing units with monthly rent and utilities not exceeding 110% of the HUD defined Fair Market Rent, as determined yearly by the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority;
  3. Homeownership housing units for those earning up to 80% of Median Family Income, as established yearly by HUD for the Lawrence, KS MSA.

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN LAWRENCE

The City of Lawrence partners with local affordable housing developers and providers to serve Lawrence residents. For assistance with finding affordable housing or for housing assistance, please contact the organizations listed below. For more help navigating housing or other community resources, please call 2-1-1.

Affordable Rentals:

Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority
Affordable rentals for general housing, seniors, veterans, transitional housing, and housing vouchers

Tenants to Homeowners
Affordable rentals, Affordable homeownership, and home repair

Bethel Estates
Affordable senior rental housing

Poehler Lofts
Affordable rentals

Penn St. Lofts
Affordable rentals

Prairie Ridge Apartments
Affordable rentals

9Del Lofts
Affordable rentals

Affordable Homeownership:

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity
Affordable homeownership and home repair

Tenants to Homeowners
Affordable rentals, Affordable homeownership, and home repair

Housing Assistance:

Catholic Charities
Rental and utility assistance, housing and resource navigation

EKAN
Home weatherization for low-income households

Housing Stabilization Collaborative
Rental and utility assistance

Housing and Credit Counseling
First time homebuyer assistance, housing and resource navigation, tenant/landlord rights information

Independence, Inc.
Home accessibility modifications for low-income persons with disabilities

Family Promise
Rental and utility assistance, housing and resource navigation, transitional housing

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND

The Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) oversees the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and makes recommendations to the City Commission on tools and strategies to increase access to safe, quality, affordable housing and supportive services necessary to maintain independent living with dignity.

The Affordable Housing Advisory Board has adopted the following 5 year goals (2024-2028) to address housing affordability in Lawrence.

  1. Increase supply of permanently affordable homeownership units for those at 30-80%AMI
  2. Increase the supply of affordable rental units for those at 30-60%AMI
  3. Increase accessibility for persons with disabilities through rehabilitation and accessibility modifications of affordable homes
  4. Improve and rehabilitate affordable homes in poor condition to bring into good condition
  5. Increase options for permanent affordable and supportive housing for residents in unstable housing situations
  6. Increase racial equity in affordable housing access
  7. Increase community awareness and community engagement around affordable housing

Local Housing Assessments: The Need for Affordable Housing

2018 Lawrence Housing Market Analysis

In late 2017, the City of Lawrence contracted with BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) to conduct a Housing Market Analysis. The primary purpose of the housing study was to conduct a Comprehensive Housing Market Study, updating and expanding the scope of the 2005 Community Housing Assessment Team Report to identify housing needs in the city, and to inform the allocation of the city’s new Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This study is a critical policy document because it serves as a housing needs assessment for the City and stakeholders providing an analysis of household affordability throughout all population segments of the community. The study highlights expected demographic trends, future demands for housing, regulations, and obstacles preventing the market from effectively responding to this demand, and an inventory of the assets and programs currently available to help the community address these challenges.


2021 Kansas Needs Assessment

In 2021, the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation and the Office of Rural Prosperity launched the state’s first comprehensive housing needs assessment in nearly 30 years, aiming to address a decades-long shortage of data on existing housing resources and current and projected needs. A lack of quality, affordable housing is widely recognized as one of the state’s biggest barriers to growth and development, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Analysis included a series of 71 virtual and in-person listening sessions with more than 425 community participants across the state, as well as meetings with housing stakeholder groups. Consultants conducted a statewide survey of more than 4,400 respondents and analyzed census data to develop a comprehensive picture of the state’s housing needs, current resources, and growth opportunities. Learn more:

 

Local Solutions for Increasing Affordable Housing

 

For more information, or to get involved, contact Lea Roselyn, Affordable Housing Administrator: LRoselyn@lawrenceks.org