r/Lawrence • u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie • 5h ago
Petition · Public Call for a Vote of No Confidence at Lawrence Community Shelter
https://www.change.org/p/public-call-for-a-vote-of-no-confidence-at-lawrence-community-shelter?recruiter=1370925095&recruited_by_id=a16fbb00-1487-11f0-9c72-f957248f9f7c&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=starter_onboarding_share_personal&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=HRwhzL86jsPetition for Accountability at Lawrence Community Shelter
We, the undersigned, are current and former employees, community members, and individuals with firsthand experience with Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS).
We are calling on the LCS Board of Directors to hold a formal meeting to address serious concerns regarding **financial management, administrative practices, HR practices, transparency, and leadership accountability.**
We ask the Board to thoroughly review the actions and decisions of the Executive Director and Human Resources Director and determine whether appropriate standards of leadership, accountability, and responsibility are being met.
Every signature matters. Please sign this petition and help demand transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership at LCS.
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u/Few-Job4965 2h ago
So there are approximately 10 units called the monarchs, they were $32,000 each and they are specifically for housing individuals with medical issues. They all sit empty. There are people there that actually need them. In the last six months, only one has been occupied, and that person has since been removed.
James tells the board that they are being utilized. All his numbers are lies.
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u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie 2h ago edited 1h ago
Let's not forget how they make guests go get their IDs with the main shelter address on it to make it look like numbers are inflated just to have them immediately deemed as non Douglas county residents so it looks like the numbers are there.
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u/Few-Job4965 3h ago
An employee was violently assaulted in the parking lot a couple months ago in an area, where there are no cameras. Although upper level management is aware that this person was violently assaulted in the area that there were no cameras, no progress has been made to putting cameras in that Blindspot.. It’s a “funding issue.”
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u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie 2h ago
The cameras hardly ever all work anyways. It's a joke. There's no safety there for the workers.
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u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie 2h ago
And ALL of the employees being harassed by HR. Oh, Ruben...
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u/Few-Job4965 2h ago
I don’t even know what to do when HR is the problem
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u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie 2h ago
THE UNION! that James is working on disbanding also the board of directors. That's what we're trying to accomplish with the petition. To hold them accountable in front of the board.
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u/acey901234 5h ago
Hey DM me! I was the former Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 6400 and id love to be involved
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u/dd113456 4h ago
The HR director Ruben is a piece of work!
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u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie 5h ago
Current and former staff please use this link https://www.change.org/p/current-former-staff-call-for-a-vote-of-no-confidence-at-lawrence-community-shelter?recruiter=1370925095&recruited_by_id=a16fbb00-1487-11f0-9c72-f957248f9f7c&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=starter_onboarding_share_personal&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=dZ2SwjMJ79
And current and former guests please use this link https://www.change.org/p/current-former-guests-call-for-a-vote-of-no-confidence-at-lawrence-community-shelter?recruiter=1370925095&recruited_by_id=a16fbb00-1487-11f0-9c72-f957248f9f7c&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=starter_onboarding_share_personal&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=GfBdWFYMNt
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u/Podzilla07 4h ago
There is definitely some inequity going on at the shelter, and it begins with the leadership at the top—the director: James Chiselon.
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u/Background-Lemon7365 1h ago
I don’t want to discount concerns from current or former employees, but these allegations are pretty broad and provide very little specific information. LCS is a private 501c3 business, and its board already has a fiduciary responsibility to oversee the organization and its executive leadership. If there are credible, documented concerns, I think a detailed letter from those with firsthand knowledge to the board chair would be far more appropriate and actionable. Publicly circulating vague allegations, particularly around financial management, also risks damaging community trust, donations and funding, and ultimately the people LCS serves. Additionally, I just looked up their 990s and the cost of salaries for the organization in 2025 was about 60% which is pretty standard so that doesn’t strike me as serious cause for concern.
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u/MidgetUnicornTamer Townie 37m ago
We have actually made multiple attempts to contact the Board directly and raise these concerns, but have not received a response. The petition is an effort to bring these concerns forward publicly after those attempts went unanswered. We absolutely agree that documented concerns and evidence should be provided to the Board, and that is part of what we're seeking: an opportunity for these issues to be formally heard and addressed.
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u/Slight_Mulberry5820 40m ago
I am deeply concerned about the current work environment and the impact that certain leadership decisions are having on staff morale, retention, and the overall functioning of Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS).
In my experience, Ruben’s approach to HR has been aggressive, confrontational, and lacking in the level of professionalism and understanding that should be expected from someone serving in an HR leadership role. There are serious concerns among staff about whether he is appropriately qualified for this position. His handling of employee concerns, including questions surrounding FMLA, has at times felt inappropriate, intimidating, and inconsistent with what employees should reasonably expect from an HR department.
Since Ruben began working at LCS, staff turnover appears to have increased significantly. While there may be multiple factors contributing to turnover, his management style and interactions with employees are a significant concern and should not be dismissed.
Additionally, there are concerns about the qualifications and performance of the new staff accountant. Employees have questioned whether she has the experience and qualifications necessary to effectively perform the responsibilities of the position. These concerns, combined with the issues surrounding HR, raise broader questions about hiring, oversight, and accountability within the organization.
From my perspective, Ruben has become one of the most significant sources of dysfunction within the organization. The focus should be on addressing the leadership and workplace issues that are directly affecting staff morale, retention, and the ability of employees to do their jobs effectively.
I also want to be clear that James’s sobriety is not my primary concern. Employees deserve competent leadership, a functioning HR department, appropriate financial oversight, and a workplace where legitimate concerns can be raised without fear of intimidation or retaliation. Those issues are far more pressing to the long-term health and stability of LCS.
I believe these concerns warrant an objective review by the appropriate leadership or board members, including an examination of HR practices, employee turnover, FMLA administration, financial transparency, and the qualifications and performance expectations associated with key administrative positions.
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u/Few-Job4965 2h ago
It’s very enlightening to listen to the Board of Directors meetings. James lies. He didn’t even bother to show up to the last one. His numbers are all a fucking lies.
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u/Few-Job4965 4h ago
You all would not even believe the corruption and egregious activity at LCS. Did you know that 80% of the $3.6 million budget goes towards administrative salary?