St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will seek declaratory judgment in federal court after the Town of Ocean City began issuing citations this week for a homeless shelter operating on church grounds.
Last month, the Town of Ocean City sent a notice to St. Paul’s, ordering it to cease operations at its de facto homeless shelter by June 8 or face municipal infractions for operating barracks-style living quarters in a zoning district where it is not permitted. On Monday, the city made good on its promise by issuing its first $1,000 fine.
While City Manager Terry McGean says fines will continue for each day the zoning violation occurs, Pastor Jill Williams said the church has no plans to close the shelter’s doors.
“Our attorney is filing for federal relief and protection for us, so we can exercise our religious rights,” she said. “We will go through that process, and the city was told by our attorney that’s what we planned to do if they didn’t stop. They wanted the federal fight, so we will go there.”
On March 31, St. Paul’s began moving occupants of an outdoor homeless encampment it had allowed on church grounds into its assembly hall. The indoor shelter opened just hours ahead of a city-imposed deadline to have the church remove the tents – which according to city code is a zoning violation – or face a fine of up to $5,000 per day.
In the weeks that followed, the church invested in its indoor shelter, rearranging the assembly hall, hiring staff, and purchasing bunk beds, food and other supplies. On average, the low-barrier shelter houses 27 individuals each night and provides them dinner, breakfast, and a place to sleep and store their belongings.