The pilot would use three of the 12 shipping container shelters that make up Monarch Village at the shelter, with one to three units initially designated for extended stays and a goal to scale up to six units in 2027. People would be referred to the Monarch CARES (Crisis And Respite Extended Stay) units through the Familiar Faces initiative, which targets highly vulnerable people who frequently use emergency and crisis services.
County Behavioral Health project director Bob Tryanski said the county has identified a service gap for people who need more time than existing facilities and programs typically provide, noting that the county has congregate living options but fewer single-resident housing options. Lawrence Community Shelter executive director James Chiselom said the Monarch units have been heavily used and not always maintained well since they were built, and that the shelter has learned practices for improved maintenance such as more regular cleaning and monitoring and keeping HVAC units on to manage humidity.
The meeting agenda lists an initial service agreement cost of up to $28,500, with $8,000 set aside for health services, while Tryanski estimated the program could cost about $225,000 per year once fully operational. The item was discussed during a work session and the commission did not take action.