Northeast Pa. town tells church it can't house homeless men

SUGAR NOTCH, Pa. (AP) — Officials in a small northeastern Pennsylvania borough are questioning a church’s plan to house a group of homeless men for a week.

Holy Family Church in Sugar Notch, Luzerne County, wants to house around 40 homeless men for a week in January. The church got a notice from the borough saying that’s a violation of local zoning laws punishable by a $500-a-day fine.

Borough Councilman Herman Balas said he’s acting in the best interest of his constituents. He said some of the homeless men could be violent or drug users or have shady pasts.

Vince Kabacinski is director of VISION, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the temporary shelter program. He says dozens of area churches participate.