Local shelters speak out against Maryland’s House Bill 93

MARYLAND- In Wicomico County, local non-profits are banding together to speak out against proposed legislation. House Bill 93, along with Senate Bill 234, requires all homeless shelters to be compliant and licensed under the Department of Housing.

Now, why is this a problem?

Shelter officials say this would not only be a costly venture, but it can create security concerns, and more importantly, they believe this bill infringes upon their First Amendment rights, the right to religious freedom.

Community Concerns 

“We can’t turn people away because they may be intoxicated, we can’t turn them away because of their agenda, We can’t turn them away because they need a service dog…. We do screen our guest because I have children here, I have women here who have been abused.” Those are just some of the parts of House Bill 93 that Pastor Anthony Dickerson of the Christian Shelter in Salisbury says there are a few things within House Bill 93 that are concerning, and insists the legislation creates unnecessary obstacles to those trying to help the un-housed population.

Celeste Savage, Executive Director of HALO, is concerned with how this will affect intake. “Anybody can come on you know, whether they’re drinking or whatever… if you’re a low barrier shelter, which means you’re working with individuals to help them come off of drugs, and go into recovery, that could be a trigger.”

Costly Compliance

If shelters are not in compliance with the bill’s rules, they would be fined $10,000, But the shelters say the State’s requirements are unreasonable. Savage of HALO ask the question, “Volunteers are not going to be wanting to come in, filling out paperwork and doing all the things that are going to be required, so does that mean a reduction in bed availability?”

Dickerson from the Christain Sheter complains about cost, “Who pays for bringing the building up to standards and so forth? Then we have to have so many staff, we have to have a case manager. This bill is going to create a hardship.”

Christian Center

Those in favor say the bill will help ensure individuals have equal access to emergency shelter. However, these shelters say because they are faith-based, this bill goes against their core beliefs. “We have devotional services every night. So, Under this bill, if passed, we cannot require them to attend our services, and we feel it is necessary to help them with their issues and their problems,” says Dickerson. 

Savage says they should consider who they apply this to. “If they feel they need to pass such a bill as this, then it would be I think, very advantageous, to exempt the faith-based organizations… HALO was built on the very foundation of biblical principles, and unfortunately, the bill has got a lot of components that overlooks that foundation.”

Last year, the Maryland department of housing and community development had floated the idea of a committee where shelters could share their concerns. Shelter officials in Salisbury those meetings have yet to take place. For more information on House Bill 93 click the link.