SAPULPA, Okla. – A pastor in Sapulpa says the city is forcing dozens of registered sex offenders to leave housing his church has provided for years.
The city says the issue has nothing to do with who is living there, but whether the property complies with zoning and safety laws. Both sides say they are trying to do the right thing.
What is the dispute about?
The pastor of Holy Ground Evangelistic Church says the city has ordered people living on the church’s property to move out because the land is not zoned for residential use.
The City of Sapulpa says the property is zoned industrial and does not meet building or safety codes required for people to live there.
Who is being affected?
Pastor Tony Rogers says about 175 people have come through the church’s housing program over the past 16 years. That includes people recently released from prison, some of whom are registered sex offenders who face limited housing options…