Churches can't help the homeless

WTNH ^ | 12/17/2002 | WTNH

[always vigilant]

(Danbury-AP Dec. 17, 2002 8:00 AM)_ Danbury officials have told several Danbury places of worship they can't help out the homeless.

The effort to open places of worship to homeless people turned away from city shelters has hit a snag. City officials told three area churches and one synagogue they can't take in the homeless this winter because their buildings do not meet local zoning regulations and state fire codes.

Churches, homeless advocates and city officials have been meeting to come up with a short-term solution to provide the homeless with a warm place to stay this winter.

Officials say shelter beds are continually full, and people are remaining homeless for longer periods of time.

[always vigilant]

My state sucks!!

[The Old Hoosier]

This is where you need someone with rocks to say, "Oh yeah, well come arrest us, then, Barney Fife."

[ClearCase_guy]

Suggested campaign slogan for a someone next year: "My opponent is one of the city officials who wanted homeless people turned out into the street."

[SoDak]

He's have to pay royalties to the DNC. They've trademarked that phrase.

[KevinDavis]

What state is Danbury in???

[RichGuy]

This won't help the homeless but it will protect the churches. Without smoke detectors and other protection such as cleared egress corridors and panic hardware type doors you cannot convert a place of assembly into a sleeping space. Even holding overnight youth group meetings (common practice for a lot of congregations) is inappropriate anymore.

The law was designed to protect the helpless and generally does just that. However, in this case it becomes a judgement call. When is a person safer, sleeping in the street or sleeping in a room without a smoke detector and proper egress pathways and doors. The churches are helped by avoiding the inevitable law suits that would occur if anyone was injured.

[always vigilant]

The great state of Leiberman and Dodd. CT

[always vigilant]

I hear you and you make total sense. But when it’s 10 degrees outside with 30mph winds, tell that to the poor sole who is cowering under the cardboard boxes.

[always vigilant]

Yep, that will be the typical government solution to the problem - more taxes for more programs. Standard MO for the lot of them.

[Red Jones]

This is where you need someone with rocks to say, "Oh yeah, well come arrest us, then, Barney Fife."

you're right. and I would think those church leaders would jump at the chance to be arrested and make a public show. I would if I were in their shoes. What are they here for? Why are they church leaders? Shouldn't they jump at the chance to receive mild persecution as an expression of their faith? Seriously.

[monday]

"City officials told three area churches and one synagogue they can't take in the homeless this winter because their buildings do not meet local zoning regulations and state fire codes. "

This is so typical of gov't bureaucrats everywhere. No mental function to be found. So what if people freeze to death? Their job is to order people about. It makes them feel important.

[tracer]

TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Connecticut;

[John O]

Hey! There must be a republican in the White House! The media's reporting on homelessness again.

God Save America (Please)

[Coleus]

What happens if there is a fire and all of them die? You will never hear the end of it and the churches will be sued big time when all of their wonderful relatives come out of the woodwork. My church has no exit signs, many churhces do not have two ways of exiting, some of these old churches are tinderboxes just waiting to burn.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Sheesh. The title of the article was probably meant to come off as a ~command~ to readers.

[always vigilant]

Morning, see #9

[blueriver]

You will never hear the end of it and the churches will be sued big time when all of their wonderful relatives come out of the woodwork.

That should be a decision that the church should be able to make without "big brother" deciding it for them.

[Coleus]

Do you remember, about a year ago, the news report of a wedding in Israel? On the Third floor, While the people were dancing the floor collapsed from under them killing many. Why did this happen, by not following the building codes.

Health, Fire and building codes are implemented for one reason, public safety and to save lives.

A church can do just that, hold services and meetings, etc. They were not built for people to be housed overnight. My church doesn't even have lighted exit signs.

Many church do run shelters, and these shelters are built according to code to house people overnight with proper exits, smoke detectors,etc.

[blueriver]

Health, Fire and building codes are implemented for one reason, public safety and to save lives.

Have you ever spent the night on a park bench when it was 10 degrees outside? People freeze to death also. These churches are last resorts when there is no other available shelter. I see your point with respect to building codes ect.., but I just find it hard to accept that it is some how or other better to let a man or woman freeze all night or possibly even freeze to death. One easy solution would be to require the church to keep the lights on.