- April 18, 2024
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After the city of Bunnell's Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board voted 3-0 to end Bunnell's First United Methodist Church's hosting of the cold weather shelter for the homeless, the church and its supporters are fighting back.
"There’s a fight ahead. [But] we’re going to be respectful. We’re still moving forward. If we don’t do this, who will?”
Sue Bickings, chairman of Shelter Tree's board
About 80 proponents of the shelter, an operation run by the non-profit Sheltering Tree for the past 11 years, gathered at the church on the afternoon of Monday, June 17, to listen to ideas and plan a strategy on how they're going to reverse the city's decision.
Sue Bickings, chairman of the Sheltering Tree’s board, led the discussion and spent the majority of the meeting jotting down ideas on broad sheets of paper titled "brainstorming." Some of the ideas introduced included: starting a petition, putting economic pressure on local businesses, reaching out to the area's other churches for support, changing Bunnell residents' perceptions of the homeless, and more.
“One of the best ways to get the city to do something is when you show up together in groups at meetings," volunteer Sims Jones said. "You come to the meeting and you get up and speak during public comments. They can’t ignore you then.”
The Sheltering Tree had initially applied for a special exception to allow the shelter to operate. It has been open every night that the temperature reaches 40 degrees or below. The shelter was open for 19 nights last year. Sheltering Tree leaders said they had believed that the church secured the city’s permission to operate, but they had not.
The city’s new community development director, Rodney Lucas, cited the church’s code deficiencies — non-compliant fire-suppression systems, bathrooms that are non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Sheltering Tree’s lack of a permit — as reasons for the closure.
However, James Bellino, pastor of the Church on the Rock, on U.S., said there are ways to work around the system.
"We have to come together," he said. "I’m not going to cow down to government regulations that say we what we can and can’t do... . We have a responsibility to help those who are hurting.”
In the meantime, the church, the shelter and its leaders are going to prepare to appeal to the city government. A formal appeal will be made to the city on July 1.
"There’s a fight ahead," Bickings said. "[But] we’re going to be respectful. We’re still moving forward. If we don’t do this, who will?”
