Richmond nonprofit sues the city after overnight homeless shelter is shut down
A Richmond nonprofit that operates as a temporary homeless shelter has sued the city after officials shut down the overnight shelter and denied a certification to continue operating.
Madison Home Inc. filed suit in Madison Circuit Court Dec. 12 after officials denied approval for the group to operate its overnight shelter, right as winter approaches.
Since 2022, the nonprofit has operated its shelter inside a historic former hospital on South Third Street under a winter-only, conditional-use permit. Since then, they have not been required to use any other annual permit.
That changed in October when City Manager Rob Minerich sent a request that the group complete an application for occupancy certificate.
The group was then denied a certification for the overnight program because of a lack of a modern sprinkler system and an inside doorway not being large enough.
Madison Home said in a press release that their building is not able to accommodate the updates with the existing structure.
“Importantly, we have met every other safety requirement over the years, and the doorway concerns only a single first-floor bathroom not typically used for sheltering during winter months,” the group said in a Facebook post.
The nonprofit’s director, Michael Frazier, posted on social media that “despite the City of Richmond, Madison Home continues our mission.”
“Madison Home remains firmly committed to ensuring our homeless neighbors have a safe place to go this winter,” Frazier said. “We believe the City’s decision is incorrect, and we are appealing it. While that process moves forward, the cold cannot wait.”
The program continues to serve as an emergency warmth shelter until each day, and provide services such as meals, showers, laundry and clothing. The group is also still able to take those they serve to other emergency overnight shelters.
In a statement, Minerich said the city had been a partner in supporting services and shelter for the unhoused since the inception of nearby Berea’s Room In the Inn program in 2018.
“We have provided volunteers, office space for processing, hotel room vouchers and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Madison Home with the understanding they would bring the building at 105 5th Street up to state building code,” Minerich said.
According to Minerich, Madison Home was issued a temporary emergency permit twice to help them stay open until they could bring the building up to code.
“The city even provided engineering and architecture drawings to give Madison Home direction on the needed improvements to meet the state building code,” Minerich said.
