Religion

rug

(82,333 posts) Mon Apr 28, 2014, 09:21 AM Apr 2014

Men-only, religious focus could hold up shelter move

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Residents of City Gospel Mission in Over-The-Rhine enjoy breakfast early Wednesday morning. (L-R) Kevin Hopgood, Tommy Hughley, and Tony Wilson. They serve about 100 each day for breakfast and dinner. (Photo: Liz Dufour, The Enquirer)

scoolidge@enquirer.com;and Liz Dufour
6:03 a.m. EDT April 28, 2014

For 90 years, the City Gospel Mission has served as a shelter for homeless men. But now fair housing laws could scuttle plans for its move to a new state-of-the-art building in Queensgate where the agency can help more people.

The deeds to the two parcels of land on Dalton Avenue and York Street – where City Gospel Mission is moving – have fair housing restrictions that include requirements that forbid the owner from discrimination based on a host of reasons, including religion or gender.

Those prohibitions, according to correspondence obtained by The Enquirer, now threaten to block the City Gospel Mission's move:

It is a religious organization whose "faith elements are embodied within its program," according to a letter from local officials to HUD.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/04/28/men-religious-focus-hold-shelter-move/8357955/

6 replies

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Men-only, religious focus could hold up shelter move (Original Post) rug Apr 2014 OP

This seems wrong to me. NYC_SKP Apr 2014 #1

The flip side is whether there should be shelters only for women and their children. rug Apr 2014 #2

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. cbayer Apr 2014 #3

My city has a "comprehensive" shelter, okasha Apr 2014 #5

I can't imagine how a separate women/child only facility could ever be found cbayer Apr 2014 #6

I'm thinking they will get this resolved goldent Apr 2014 #4

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. This seems wrong to me.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 09:39 AM

Apr 2014

There ought to be exceptions available where the benefit to the community is great.

Shelters are often for one sex exclusively, and sometimes for good reason, and in my experience services provided by religious institutions don't exclude non-belivers or require prayer.

Sheesh.

rug

(82,333 posts)

2. The flip side is whether there should be shelters only for women and their children.

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 09:42 AM

Apr 2014

Not to mention the fewer cases of homeless men and their children.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

3. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 10:34 AM

Apr 2014

I think there are good arguments to be made for same sex institutions and programs, and, in particular, within programs like this.

The religious aspect seems very secondary in this case.

okasha

(11,573 posts)

5. My city has a "comprehensive" shelter,

Reply to cbayer (Reply #3)

Tue Apr 29, 2014, 12:45 AM

Apr 2014

for lack of a better word. There's a men's dorm, a women's dorm and a few two room suites for families. Women in danger and their children are directed to a battered women's shelter. Both facilities are run by Catholic Charities.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

6. I can't imagine how a separate women/child only facility could ever be found

Reply to okasha (Reply #5)

Tue Apr 29, 2014, 10:16 AM

Apr 2014

to violate some statute.

And for men in recovery, there is an excellent case to be made for single sex shelters/housing.

I hope they leave this alone.

goldent

(1,582 posts)

4. I'm thinking they will get this resolved

Reply to rug (Original post)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 07:51 PM

Apr 2014

I don't think the HUD regulations were written with homeless shelters in mind.

Good to see Ohio's senators from both parties are pressuring HUD.

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