City Of Lexington Sued Over Homeless Shelter

The city of Lexington is being sued by Emmanuel Apostolic Church and the Catholic Action Center for revoking the operating permit for a homeless shelter on Winchester Road.

Community Inn homeless shelter wants its conditional use permit reinstated.

At the center of the debate is the city’s definition of "Church."

The property is zoned B-4 for wholesale and warehouse use.  Churches are allowed in the area as a conditional use.

The city’s board of adjustments thought the Community Inn was going to operate as a traditional church with services on Sundays and special programming on Thursdays, but instead operates as a homeless shelter.

The building houses homeless men and women seven nights a week.  Neighbors and area businesses have complained about the number of homeless people in the area.

ABC 36 News contacted the city for comment.  A spokeswoman said there would be no comment due to the pending litigation.