Nearly six weeks after St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in downtown Ocean City, Maryland, opened its overnight shelter for unhoused people inside its building, city officials charged the parish with a zoning violation. The city is now demanding the church close the shelter by June 8 at 9 a.m. or be fined an unspecified amount daily until operations cease and face “further enforcement action.”
Jill Williams, rector of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea, which is part of the Diocese of Easton, said in an interview that the church refuses to close the shelter or pay any fines.
“We’ve done everything to be in compliance with the fire marshal and with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Williams said. “What this latest threat means is [Ocean City Mayor Richard W. Meehan] and city council hate that we exist. They’re angry that we set up this shelter because they don’t want homeless people across the street from their offices and so close to the tourist area.”
