A Massachusetts church has begun dismantling a tent community that sheltered 60 people experiencing homelessness after facing $1,200 in daily fines.
Here’s what to know
In a Facebook post about sheltering people on its private property, the church disclosed the hefty fines it faced. The City of Lawrence issued House of Mercy Church a cease-and-desist order, with four separate violations carrying daily penalties of $300 apiece, according to MassLive.
The city raised concerns about permitting and oversight of the encampment’s facilities. The encampment included 26 tents on wooden pallets, portable toilets, and two shipping containers converted into housing.
“The establishment or operation of unauthorized encampments, temporary housing structures, or sanitation facilities without the necessary permits and inspections raises serious questions concerning the health, safety, and welfare of both the individuals occupying those facilities and the surrounding community,” Lawrence Mayor Brian De Peña said in a statement, Boston.com reported.
More background
De Peña said Lawrence had more than 400 people experiencing homelessness and had devoted more than $1.9 million to its homelessness response during fiscal 2026, according to Boston.com…