Project Overview & Goals
Timeline
Citywide Housing Survey
Coming soon! Tell us about your experiences with housing in Lawrence.
The Lawrence Affordable Housing Study is an 8- to 10-month long process that will identify housing needs in our community, assess COVID’s impact on the housing market, and provide actionable strategies to improve housing equity over the coming decade. It will build on the foundations of previous Lawrence housing studies, which have found that:
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The housing affordability gap in Lawrence is widening.
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There is not enough housing available for low-income households.
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Home prices have risen faster than incomes.
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Homelessness is increasing, and the supportive housing and services currently available are stretched thin.
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Some groups in Lawrence face special housing challenges, including renters and students.
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Housing segregation and racial and income disparities create unequal access to housing and related resources in Lawrence.
What will we have at the end of the Lawrence Affordable Housing Study process?
The study process will:
- Provide a data-driven assessment of the housing market, housing stock, and housing needs of the Lawrence community.
- Quantify housing demand across various price points and types, with special consideration for priority populations that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
- Engage the community in dialogue about their housing experiences, policy options, preferences, and priorities for the future.
- Create a strategy with specific policies that address Lawrence’s unique housing market.
What will the City of Lawrence do with this study?
The City and its partners—including other local governments, potential developers, and affordable housing providers—will use the study’s strategies, policies, and research to support the siting and development of affordable housing and identify specific programs and unit types to serve affordable housing needs. The study will also identify the impacts of COVID-19 on the City’s affordable housing market and recommend specific actions to address these impacts using existing funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Who is involved?
The City of Lawrence’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) will serve as the Steering Committee, with considerable support from City of Lawrence staff. Their expertise and involvement will guide the Development Strategies and Blair Freeman project teams at every step of the way.
We’ll also be talking with residents, advocacy groups, and local housing experts and professionals who come to these issues from a broad range of perspectives.
How can I get involved?
Housing is an issue that impacts all of us! We’ll be working closely with the Lawrence community throughout this process.
- We need your input! An online public survey will open on this project website mid-January 2026. Please share with your friends, colleagues, and neighbors!
- Please stay informed! We will also share updates along the way on this project page. Stay tuned for opportunities to share feedback and learn more about housing.
Jenny Connelly-Bowen
Project Manager, Development Strategies
City of Lawrence Communications