Pastor hopes for settlement with Fort Rock in effort to accommodate these in want

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — A Fort Rock pastor is holding out hope that an settlement could be reached with the city relating to the church’s efforts to briefly home these experiencing homelessness.

In a grievance filed on Jan. 4, The Rock Church alleges the City of Fort Rock and the zoning supervisor tried to ban it from offering shelter for “folks experiencing non permanent homelessness.”

Pastor Mike Polhemus advised Denver7 the church would supply non permanent housing in two campers behind the church on its property. Polhemus stated the church can home, at most, two households at a time.

“We’ve to have a spot the place we are able to— in emergency conditions— convey somebody in and briefly home them or shelter them… till we are able to get them again on their toes,” stated Polhemus.

The pastor stated the church vets the households earlier than providing housing and gives wrap-around providers.

“We need to assist them with jobs,” stated Polhemus. “We need to assist with meals. We need to assist them with shelter.”

Inside weeks, in response to Polhemus, the folks housed by the church are capable of get again on their toes. He stated the church’s efforts are impressed by the Bible.

“What’s the profit, my fellow believers, if somebody claims to have religion, however has no good works as proof?” he stated, quoting James 2:14.

Frederick Kreuger is one in every of a number of individuals who briefly stayed in one of many campers after struggling to discover a job attributable to a incapacity.

“They saved my life,” stated Kreuger. “Let’s simply put it on the market the place it’s — I would not be right here proper now if I needed to keep on the market these nights.”

Kreuger, who struggles to stroll, was beneficial to The Rock Church and stayed in a camper on web site. He was capable of create a routine and seek for a job that might accommodate his incapacity.

“I had a microwave and a spot to park,” he stated. “Plus, it gave me time to sleep after which prepare for the following day so I am going again to work.”

On September 29, 2023, the church obtained a “letter of dedication” from the zoning supervisor, stating the church was violating zoning laws and that it may’t have RVs used as residences parked on web site. The church filed an attraction with the Board of Adjustment on October 13, 2023. The board heard the attraction in December and sided with the zoning supervisor.

In response, Polhemus stated the church has stopped providing non permanent housing for now. He stated he has already needed to flip one household away.

“It is exhausting,” he stated. “For these households, for the one mothers with youngsters that need to keep of their group… How will we resolve this downside? So I am hopeful that we’ll resolve it collectively.”

Polhemus believes the church is filling a necessity in Fort Rock by offering providers and shelter for individuals who briefly cannot afford housing.

“I believe there’s alternatives for extra (non permanent housing),” he stated. “However I believe that is the place we are saying, nicely, we’ll play our half.”

Whereas the lawsuit is pending, Polhemus hopes that the church and Fort Rock can merely come to an settlement.

“We need to adhere to town,” he stated. “We’re not making an attempt to battle with town.”

Melissa Hoelting, communications supervisor for the City of Fort Rock, stated in an announcement, “We don’t have info to supply relating to the pending litigation.”

Hoelting supplied a hyperlink to the December 7, 2023, Board of Adjustment listening to.

“On the assembly, the Board upheld the City Zoning Division’s dedication that the usage of RVs/campers as non permanent onsite shelters on this property is just not permissible underneath the Church of the Rock’s zoning laws,” wrote Hoelting.

‘We need to assist’: Pastor hopes for settlement with Fort Rock in effort to accommodate these in want