01/23/2024

An Ohio Church Is Suing a City Over Not Being Allowed to House Homeless People

Its pastor is potentially facing fines or six months in prison

A church in Ohio, whose pastor was criminally charged for allowing unhoused people to sleep at the church, has filed a federal lawsuit on the grounds of religious discrimination.

Dad's Place is located in Bryan, Ohio, about an hour outside of Toledo. Last year, the church began to offer temporary housing for people living on the street. The city ordered the church to stop, citing zoning and safety concerns. But the pastor, Chris Avell, refused.

Now, he faces 18 zoning code violations which are punishable by fines, up to six months in prison, or both.

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