A church in Ohio that has been providing around-the-clock shelter to homeless people is at odds with the city over building codes and permits. Dad’s Place, as the church is known, faces legal action from the city of Bryan, which says the church lacks proper permits for overnight accommodations and needs to make costly improvements to meet fire safety standards. The church argues that it provides a vital service to the community and that the city’s actions are discriminatory.
For more than a year, a pastor who opened his church around the clock to shelter and give hope to homeless people has been at odds with an Ohio city over the building housing his ministry.The church, called Dad’s Place, remains open to temporarily shelter people while it also appeals a separate civil case allowing the city of Bryan to enforce its zoning and fire codes on the building.
Bryan Fire Chief Douglas Pool says the city’s main concern is that the building does not have the proper permits for people to be sleeping inside Dad’s Place. Inspectors first noticed people sleeping in the church a year ago after earlier finding a mix of code violations. Some of the issues have been fixed, but the city says the church still lacks a permit that would allow people to stay overnight. Securing the permit would require costly improvements, including fire sprinklers. The fire chief says the city is obligated to enforce the codes, otherwise it could be at fault if disaster strikes. “If we don’t do anything, who’s going to get blamed?” Pool said. “We’re in a position where we need to enforce the code.”Dad’s Place’s lawyers also say the city has unfairly singled out the church, carrying out a string of surprise inspections to intimidate the people who are seeking shelter. They argue that Dad’s Place provides a vital service to the community and that the city’s actions are discriminatory. They point out that other shelters in the area operate without the same level of scrutiny. The church has garnered support from local residents and advocacy groups who see it as a beacon of compassion and a necessary resource for the city’s most vulnerable population. The conflict between Dad’s Place and the city of Bryan highlights the complex issues surrounding homelessness and the balance between public safety and compassion
HOMELESSNESS CHURCH SHELTER CITY LAWSUIT BUILDING CODES FIRE SAFETY
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