James Chiselom : “Racial Disparities in LKS Demographics”

Recent reports from the director of the Lawrence Community Shelter have shed light on the overrepresentation of people of color among shelter guests compared to the population of Douglas County.

James Chiselom, the executive director of the shelter, presented the first of monthly demographic reports to the LCS board of directors. The reports aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the shelter’s guest demographics.

In January, the shelter hosted 221 night-by-night guests, with 54.3% identifying as white, 17.65% as Black, African, or African American, 9% as multiracial, and 5.9% as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous.

These figures starkly contrast the demographic makeup of Douglas County, which consists of 83.1% white individuals, 4.8% Black individuals, 4.5% individuals of two or more races, and 2.7% American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, according to the 2020 Census.

Notably, the percentage of Black guests at the shelter is approximately 3.7 times higher than the percentage of Black individuals in Douglas County’s population.

Participants in the shelter’s 90-day program also exhibited demographic disparities, with 55.6% identifying as white, 22.22% as Black, African, or African American, and 8.9% as multiracial or American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous.

Racial and Ethnic Breakdown of Guests in 90-day Program

During the board meeting, gender demographics revealed that 67% of guests identified as men, 28% as women, and 5% as transgender, nonbinary, questioning, or other gender identities.

Concerns were raised regarding the low number of women seeking shelter at LCS, with safety and the lack of women-only emergency shelter beds being cited as primary reasons.

Age-wise, the largest group of guests fell between the ages of 35 and 44, with significant representation in the 25-34 and 45-54 age brackets.

Additionally, ten guests identified as veterans, and a detailed report on the 90-day program participants highlighted disabilities among 73% of the guests.

Policy and Procedure Changes at Lawrence Community Shelter

Chiselom announced policy changes requiring guests exited for substance use to undergo assessments at Heartland RADAC and comply with recommendations. The shelter aims to address underlying issues rather than simply barring individuals.

Efforts are also being made to address drug and alcohol use within the shelter, focusing on deescalation techniques and support for individuals struggling with substance abuse.

Future plans include the identification of guests moving to the Pallet village, a community of cabin-like structures on North Michigan Street.

The Lawrence Community Shelter board meets monthly to address these issues and more. For additional information, visit the shelter’s website.

Mackenzie Clark, reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. To read more of her work, visit her author page here.

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