ATS partners with Lawrence Homeless Resource Center on community-centered supports

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Assessment & Technology Solutions (ATS) and the Homeless Resource Center (HRC) in Lawrence have spent five months building a new partnership focused on strengthening HRC’s technology foundation, with the goal of providing streamlined services for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Lawrence community.

This partnership brings together ATS’s expertise in technology systems and data management with HRC’s deep community presence and role serving people experiencing homelessness. Rooted in shared values, the collaboration is designed to ensure that HRC has the necessary infrastructure to provide uninterrupted, human‑centered solutions to the community’s most vulnerable.

“Volunteering is not just for individuals. It can also be an opportunity for organizations across Lawrence to work side by side with those of us in the public service sector,” said Brett Hartford, executive director of the Lawrence Homeless Resource Center. “When we show up for each other, we don’t just meet immediate needs — we build a stronger, more compassionate Lawrence for everyone.”

Through this partnership, ATS is volunteering alongside HRC staff to support data‑informed decision‑making, strengthen assessment and feedback processes, and enhance database systems that help HRC understand what is working and where adaptations are needed. In practice, this looks like solidifying Wi-Fi networks and advising on standing data collection practices.

It also includes KU assistance in providing for immediate physical needs. For instance, ATS hosts quarterly drives where teams collect high-demand season items such as clothing, shoes, coffee and deodorant. The collaboration is designed to build internal capacity and support ongoing improvement rather than impose one‑size‑fits‑all solutions.

“Our work with HRC is rooted in a shared belief that data can illuminate pathways to brighter futures,” said Susan Martin, director of KU Assessment & Technology Solutions. “ATS brings the tools, but HRC brings the heart.”

Over the next year, the partnership will focus on:

• Strengthening data collection and feedback systems that align with HRC’s values and day‑to‑day operations.
• Building a stronger technology system infrastructure to improve services for people experiencing homelessness.
• Through quarterly team donation challenges, providing relevant and timely physical donations to help support the everyday needs of guests.

Both organizations are committed to ongoing, iterative collaboration, where feedback from staff and community stakeholders will guide the work, Martin said. 

About the Lawrence Homeless Resource Center

The Lawrence Homeless Resource Center is a community‑based organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Lawrence. Through housing navigation, basic needs support and advocacy, HRC works to provide compassionate, low‑barrier services rooted in dignity and respect.

Learn more about the organization on the Lawrence HRC website.

About KU Assessment & Technology Solutions

ATS helps public agencies deliver assessment services to their constituents through innovative technology solutions using agile software development methodologies.

Learn more about their products and services on the ATS website.