August 2026 Newsletter

Douglas County housing providers, service organizations, advocates and community members gathered for a photo opportunity after the county commission proclaimed Aug. 24-28 as Supportive Housing Week. They are fostering resilience, stability and opportunity for countless individuals.

A Place for Everyone: Stories of supportive housing

Douglas County marked Supportive Housing Week, Aug. 24–28, by sharing stories that highlight how supportive housing is helping people across the community.

Supportive housing combines affordable homes with services that help people maintain stability, improve their health and live independently. These services can include transportation, case management, medical care and education.

It’s a key part of the community’s “A Place for Everyone” plan to end chronic homelessness. It helps break the cycle of housing instability by pairing a safe place to live with the support needed. Studies show it reduces reliance on emergency shelters, hospitals, crisis response systems and law enforcement.

In 2025, the Douglas County Commission allocated $3.8 million in one-time capital projects and ongoing operating funding for supportive housing projects with community partners. The 2026 budget includes $2.9 million.

Several residents and service providers recently shared how that investment is making a difference. Here are their stories:

Pictured, from left, are, Assistant County Administrator Jill Joliceour, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority Executive Director Shannon Oury, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, Tenants to Homeowners Executive Director Rebecca Buford and Peaslee Tech CEO Kevin Kelley. They are standing in front of one of the tiny homes that Peaslee Tech students built for Tenants to Homeowners.

Supportive housing collaboration highlighted during U.S. Senator's visit

On Aug. 28, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall stopped by The Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, a hands-on technical training center in Lawrence, to take a tour, meet students and learn about current projects. One highlight was the partnership with Tenants to Homeowners, where students build affordable, tiny homes that become supportive housing in Douglas County. 

Peaslee Tech will soon partner with the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority to build affordable homes for the hundreds of individuals currently on the waiting list for a Section 8 affordable housing voucher. 

This collaboration is an example of how our community is expanding access to affordable, supportive housing.

The Self-Help Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays inside the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. Eleventh St.

Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program available

Douglas County tenants facing eviction now have access to free legal consultation and representation through the Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program, which launched June 1.

The program is designed to assist participants in stabilizing their housing, preventing homelessness and promoting access to clean, safe and sanitary living conditions. It is supported by the Douglas County District Court Self-Help Center in partnership with Kansas Holistic Defenders and Kansas Legal Services.

The Self-Help Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday inside the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St. Staff can be reached by email at selfhelp@dgcoks.gov or by phone or text at 785-691-9448.

Self-Help Center Director Casey Forsyth said Douglas County tenants who receive an eviction notice should attend their court date and not ignore it. Attorneys will be available at tenants’ first answer hearings. Tenants may request assistance in person at the hearing or in advance by completing the Tenant Eviction Defense application on the county website.

In May, the Board of County Commissioners allocated $40,000 for the pilot program in 2026. 

For more information, visit dgcoks.gov/district-court/self-help.

Parking lot next to historic courthouse to close for construction on Sept. 1

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, the small parking lot on the south side of the historic courthouse will be closed for construction. The project will nearly double the number of parking spaces in the lot, increasing capacity from 20 to 36. It is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Also on Sept. 1, 18 additional spaces will reopen in the parking lot south of the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC).

We appreciate the patience of employees, neighbors and the public during the ongoing construction near the historic courthouse and the JLEC.

Board of County Commissioners

Douglas County Commission meetings are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the historic Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., on the second floor in the Commission meeting room. Meetings are also available on Zoom. The commission will not meet on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Commissioners took the following action on regular business agenda items in August. They unanimously approved:

• a comprehensive plan amendment to Plan 2040 that would revise the West of K-10 Plan.
• the financial statement and conclusion of the fiscal year 2025 audit.
• the 2027 budget and capital improvement plan for Douglas County.
• the 2027 operating budget for Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1.

On a 3-1 vote, the commission approved supporting a Tax Increment Financing district in the City of Eudora. Commissioner Anderson voted no, and Commissioner Dorsey recused himself.

** Recordings of County Commission meetings can be found on the Douglas County YouTube channel.

Work sessions

County Commissioners have work sessions to study and discuss various topics throughout the year. No action is taken during work sessions. The work sessions are held at 4 p.m. before the business meeting. The following work sessions are scheduled:

• Sept. 9: Psychiatry and medical services growth at Heartland Community Health Center
• Sept. 16: Diagnostic review implementation

County Commissioners discuss the 2027 budget at their Aug. 26 meeting.

Commissioners approve 2027 budget

The Douglas County Commission unanimously approved an approximately $199.2 million budget for 2027 during its business meeting on Aug. 26. In July, commissioners held more than 20 hours of public meetings and deliberations during its review of the budget.

Commissioners agreed on a mill levy of 40.286 mills, a decrease of 0.383 mills from last year.

For the fifth consecutive year, the county commission has lowered the mill levy. Since 2023, the commission has reduced the mill levy by a combined 7.133 mills, lowering the rate from 47.419 to 40.286, a decrease of 15%. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 assessed value.

The 2027 budget includes a 4.9% increase in assessed property valuation, compared to 5.7% the previous year.

Commissioners allocated funding for several one-time projects using existing fund balances. These include:

• $500,000 to the Baldwin City Economic Development Corporation to support a new childcare center in Baldwin City.
• $1.5 million pledge to Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center for a Youth Recovery Center.
• $485,085 to Family Promise to pay off loans on two supportive housing projects, increasing the agency’s ability to expand operations and services.
• $91,761 to Douglas County Historical Societies for capital improvement projects involving accessibility upgrades to facilities and a collections management assistant.
• $340,000 for two behavioral health capital projects for justice-involved housing and a peer support clubhouse.

To explore the county’s budget, visit the Open Budget Dashboard.

Youth Services offering 'The Parent Project'

The Youth Services Division of Douglas County Criminal Justice Services is offering The Parent Project, a 10-week program that gives parents, grandparents and caregivers tools to guide their strong-willed teens (ages 10 and older) and build healthy families.

Classes are held every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., starting Sept. 15 and ending Nov. 17, at 1006 New Hampshire St. in Lawrence.

The program is open to Douglas County residents, and there is no cost.

The Parent Project is designed to tackle the challenges facing youth: drugs, youth violence, depression and social media. It is uniquely equipped to tackle the problems and obstacles that parents face today such as social media addiction, ADHD, bullying and sexual predators. 

To sign up for the program or ask questions, contact parentproject@dgcoks.gov or call 785-331-1300.

Senior Resource Center offers transportation

The Senior Resource Center offers transportation through its Senior Wheels program. The program provides pre-scheduled rides from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday within Douglas County to help aging community members maintain their independent lifestyles. 

Senior Wheels accepts per-ride payments or 10-ride punch cards. You can purchase punch cards by calling 785-727-7876 or you can pay at pickup with a check or exact cash. Drivers cannot make change.

New riders must complete a rider form before scheduling their first trip. Visit SRC's Senior Wheels and Transportation webpage for more information.

On May 8, members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) practiced disaster medical skills, including bandaging wounds, moving injured patients, triaging multiple patients based on severity, and reviewed first aid for heat-related illnesses, opioid overdoses and allergic reactions.

Enrollment open for Emergency Management's CERT training in October

Douglas County Emergency Management is accepting registrations for its Fall 2026 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) weekend class. The course is designed to teach individuals to be better prepared to help themselves, their families and communities before, during and after a disaster. 

The training will be Oct. 9-Oct. 11 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., in Flory Meeting Hall. The approximate schedule will be:

• Friday, Oct. 9 - 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 10 - 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 11 - 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The training is free, but individuals need to register on Emergency Management's website.

The course includes information about disaster preparedness, fire safety, medical operations, light search and rescue, terrorism and other safety measures. 

At the conclusion of the training, individuals may register to become a CERT volunteer. Authorized CERT volunteers provide support to first responders and other agencies during a disaster and at community events as directed by Emergency Management.

Sheriff's Office receives 'Friend of Fair' recognition

The Douglas County Fair Board in August presented a “Friend of the Fair” award to Sheriff’s Office staff for work on planning and logistics related to safety and security at this year’s Douglas County Fair.

The board especially recognized Sgt. Nick Nelson and Sgt. Austin Abram for their work on leading DGSO’s planning this year.

Sheriff's Office: Back-to-school safety reminders

As students across Douglas County return to classrooms — from the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University and Baker University to all K-12 schools — the Sheriff’s Office is reminding everyone to stay alert and practice safe habits on the road.

To help keep everyone safe, the Sheriff's Office offers these important reminders:

• Be alert and observe school bus stop arms and crossing guards in the morning and afternoons. Slow down and watch for children walking in the area and always stop your vehicle and wait until a bus stop arm retracts.
• Fasten your seat belt and all appropriate child safety seats every time you drive. Buckling up helps keep you safe inside your vehicle. Not buckling up can result in being ejected in a crash, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
• If you drink, don’t drive. Arrange for a sober driver or ride-share service to avoid impaired driving and putting others in danger.

Dolly's Imagination Library, Douglas County Emergency Management, Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum, Center for Supportive Communities and the American Red Cross were among the organizations tabling at last year's Volunteer Expo.

Looking to volunteer? Stop by the Expo on Sept. 9

The Senior Resource Center for Douglas County and United Way of Kaw Valley are hosting the Douglas County Volunteer Expo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Flory Meeting Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St.

The public is invited to this free event to learn about ways to stay engaged in the community. Connect with more than 35 local nonprofits and agencies in need of volunteers and find a purpose or passion that fits your interests.

Community invited to Recovery Walk on Sept. 11

The Douglas County Drug Treatment Court team, participants and alumni group are hosting the sixth annual Recovery Walk event from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in Lawrence’s South Park, 1198 Massachusetts St., near the gazebo.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the community, and it is being held in conjunction with National Recovery Month. Activities will include a cake walk, Plinko board, duck pond, lollipop tree and art tiles. Contests will include bubble gum blowing, egg toss and tug-of-war. The event will also feature a short walk around the park, remembrance paper lanterns and informational tables.

The keynote speaker will be an alumnus of the Drug Court Treatment program.

Douglas County has job openings in Public Works, District Court, District Attorney’s Office and Consolidated Fire District No. 1. The positions include:

• Administrative assistant
• Civil engineer
• Engineering inspections supervisor
• Firefighter
• Legal self-help director

We offer great benefits and competitive wages. For more information about these job openings and how to apply, visit our website at dgcoks.gov/jobs.

Douglas County government offices and District Court will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day. We wish everyone a safe holiday weekend.