A homeless shelter in downtown London said it received a letter from the city warning that it could be shutdown next month unless it complies with zoning by-laws.
The Ark Aid Street Mission, currently operating its drop-in centre within the First Baptist Church on 568 Richmond Street, said it was issued a notice from the City of London this week with a deadline informing the organization that it must seek a zoning amendment with the church by Tuesday, October 4 or cease offering services at that location.
Late Friday afternoon, the organization said it has been granted an extension from the city until October 20.
The shelter serves between 300-400 people on a daily basis, providing marginalized groups with a drop-in space that offers dinner seven nights a week, lunch and afternoon drop-in with showers, clothing and support services five days a week.
According to Ark Aid, the letter from the city sent to First Baptist Church Trustees deems the collaborative use of the space as “an assembly hall”, rather than a place of worship, which is what the church is currently zoned as.
In a letter drafted to the city’s by-law department, Pastor Al Roberts, of First Baptist along with Ark Aid’s Executive Director Sarah Campbell stated the work they are doing falls under religious expression.
“The ministries that are being delivered in partnership with Ark Aid Street Mission are our expression of worship and have been, on a smaller scale, always part of the ministry work of our church,” the letter read. “Many other places of worship across our community provide similar ministry services to the poor and marginalized.”
The letter also includes four questions it would like answers to which include:
• Why was this use of our building considered outside of the “place of worship use” given the historical and shared experience of churches providing social justice, sanctuary and care to the marginalized?
• What is the appeal process for this order?
• What type of legal action may be taken if we are unable to comply with the order by October 4?
• Will you be making similar orders on other places zoned Z1 that provide similar ministry services?
Ark Aid Street Mission Chair Ed Wilson also noted that he has recently heard concerns from nearby merchants and the city as the services offered are close to Richmond Row.
“The organization met with the downtown BIA and business owners earlier this week and the proposed solutions included moving locations, but with no option immediately presented the suggestion was to open earlier and longer to provide people sleeping in doorways and parks a welcoming place for breakfast as business owners and students arrive for their downtown activities,” Wilson said.
Both First Baptist Church and Ark Aid said it hopes the city will re-consider the order as it believes the services it provides fulfills the criteria under the place of worship zoning by-law.
In response, City of London officials said it has received a number of complaints regarding the services delivered and said municipal by-law has an obligation to enforce community by-laws.
“Under the zoning by-law, the use, as it’s currently established is not permitted,” a release from the city read. “Because Ark Aid is leasing the space and providing the services as a separate entity, they are not operating as a place of worship, which is a permitted use, but rather as an assembly hall, which is not.”
The city also offered several options to Ark Aid Street Mission to bring the property into zoning compliance which includes:
• First Baptist Church can assume care and control of the services being delivered through Ark Aid, which would enable those services to continue.
• First Baptist Church can pursue a zoning amendment that would allow the ongoing use.
• First Baptist Church can request Ark Aid to find an alternate location.
City officials said it looks forward to discussing these options with First Baptist Church and has since reached out them.
