While looking through the Minneapolis newspaper website, The Star Tribune, an interesting article caught my attention from 2015. This article explains an odd zoning ordinance that mandates all emergency homeless shelters to be located in churches, mosques, temples, or other places of worship. In Minneapolis, under 1995 zoning rules, emergency homeless shelters must be located in a place of worship, except a small area downtown where emergency shelters can operate independently. This odd zoning ordinance was originally in place to allow emergency homeless shelters to be out of sight. While Minneapolis is known for having a church on nearly every corner, the amount of the homeless was rising and out growing the church basements the emergency homeless shelters were allotted. In 2015 this zoning ordinance was finally being reevaluated however I am unsure whether there has been an outcome yet.

It is important to note that often times religious organizations will let aid organizations or in this case emergency homeless shelters use rent out or use their facilities basements for no cost and often the churches do not fund these aid organizations.

With this zoning ordinance explained I began to imagine myself as a homeless person in Minneapolis in the dead of winter, which usually gets down to the negative twenties or below, and I need a place not only to sleep but to be during the day so I do no freeze to death. Now I also imagine I have only one choice to spend the day and night in a Lutheran church basement because that is where the nearest available emergency homeless shelter is located. If I do not feel comfortable associating with the Lutheran religion, let alone being in the church, I am out of luck. This zoning ordinance is very strange and puts many individuals in uncomfortable situations.

Has anybody else heard of any other zoning ordinances similar to this?

Heres the link to the 2015 article!

http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-may-free-homeless-shelters-from-worship-spaces/292035401/