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.
OC is al game for doing anything that brings a dollar into OC. I think it is a wonderful thing the church is doing!!! And I hope they keep doing it and fight those worthless bastards at OC to the bitter end. Good will triumph over evil. OC officials doesn’t want anyone to know that OC has homeless people, just like any other city. Shame on OC!!!! All they are concerned with is the almighty dollar.
Homeless individuals are smarter than you think. Public safety is more important than creating a homeless shelter in the town of Ocean City, Maryland. The church has the right idea but in the wrong place. Thats why zoning laws were created 120 years ago, to balance business and residential uses for the health, safety and welfare of the public. I have worked with many homeless men. One thing in common is they want to be homeless. Also bipolar disorder is part of their mental state. Others have nobody in their life. The answer is not popular but Terry is right, the church is not a homeless shelter. Terry is not a mean guy. Homeless shelters cant be a fixture in a resort town. The zoning code would have to establish new dwelling codes for halfway houses. A clinical evaluation for each resident would have to be on file. Medication may be a daily requirement and set check in time. God bless the church for their work.
So, the church is enabling homelessness.
You hit the nail on the head Dave @ 9:40 am. Homeless people want to be homeless. They don’t want the responsibility of owning or renting a home and having to get up every morning and go to work to pay the expenses like the rest of us non- beggars do and will continue to do to sustain our life style. I have experienced many times that people will let you do all you will do for them. Stop trying to lift the homeless up, they are the level they desire.
Some……….not all!
6:45……………..You can’t say that until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Have you ever heard “But for the grace of God, go I” ?