St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church Faces New Deadlines From OC

OCEAN CITY, Md. — St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City says it is facing new deadlines from the Town of Ocean City, demanding that its indoor shelter cease operations by June 8.

As WMDT previously reported, in May 2025, Worcester County ruled that people could not sleep on public property. As a result, many sought shelter from local churches. Reverend Jill Williams of St. Paul’s said the church had supported people for months, but the town determined that tents on the property violated zoning rules and had to be removed by the end of March. The church complied, establishing an indoor, low-barrier emergency shelter ministry called Shelter by-the-Sea.

A new zoning violation has since been issued to the church. Following an inspection conducted by the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office on April 29, the town found that the barracks-style sleeping arrangements in the church’s assembly hall violate town regulations.

St. Paul’s Pastor Jill Williams said, “They are calling us barracks-style overnight accommodations, and they’re saying that that’s prohibited in our zoning where our church is located. However, because we are a church, we are exempt from complying with that because we are federally protected by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.”

The complaint also states that the number of plumbing fixtures on site is not sufficient to serve the intended occupancy of the space. As a result, the church has been told all shelter operations must cease by 9 a.m. June 8.

Ministry leaders say the shelter has been successful, serving 892 guests over the past 42 nights. The shelter averages about 27 guests per night, though the number fluctuates. Leaders say that since opening indoors, the shelter has worked closely with community agencies and received referrals from the Homeless Outreach Team, healthcare workers, and law enforcement officers seeking safe placement for individuals with nowhere else to go.

Williams said one of her biggest concerns in the city’s letter is that no alternative housing was offered for the church’s guests.

“We are the only low-barrier shelter in Worcester County and certainly in Ocean City,” she said. “It is illegal to sleep on public property, so if they try to sleep at the boardwalk or the bus stops or anywhere else, that could result in arrest or something equally harsh. There is no other alternative. That’s why we were compelled to open.”

On Tuesday, May 12, the church’s attorney contacted the town stating that the shelter had no intention of ceasing operations.

“We want to be absolutely clear: we will not turn our homeless neighbors out onto the street,” Williams said in an open letter. “Ocean City is known as a welcoming resort town. We believe it can also be known as a compassionate community that does not punish churches for caring for vulnerable people in moments of crisis.”

WMDT will continue to report on this story as updates are made available.