Colorado Church Fights for Right to Provide Housing

After the town of Castle Rock ordered a church to stop providing shelter for unhoused residents on their property, the church is suing the town, reports Colleen Slevin for the Associated Press. Castle Rock officials say the property is not zoned for residential uses.

In the lawsuit, the church argues that helping those in need, including providing housing, is a religious activity protected by the U.S. Constitution. The suit also points out that there are no shelters for unhoused people in the surrounding area. 

The Rock Church is currently housing one resident in an RV. It began providing temporary housing in 2018 as part of a network of churches offering housing to women and children. If the suit is successful, the church has plans to build workforce housing on its land. 

The church claims its actions are protected under the 2000 Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which prohibits land use regulations that put a ‘substantial burden’ on religious activities without a ‘compelling reason.’