Great Falls, Montana, planning board unanimously rejects First United Methodist Church’s homeless shelter permit

The City of Great Falls said in a news release on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, that First United Methodist Church had been expanding its homeless outreach ministry over the past six months. The ministry is located at 610 2nd Avenue North. The City said the church had moved from providing food and space for homeless persons to operating a tent and camper encampment, which it said violates the Great Falls Municipal Code. Providing food and shelter to neighbors in need reflects the hospitality described in Matthew 25:35.

The church was placed on notice in early May that the encampment violated the City’s zoning code, which does not permit campgrounds in the church’s zoning district. The City also notified Pastor Jeff Wakeley that the church must obtain a Conditional Use Permit to operate any type of homeless shelter. The church submitted a CUP application, which City staff were processing, and the application was to be presented to the Great Falls Zoning Commission within the next few weeks.

The church did not remove the tents and camping arrangements as directed, so the City filed a lawsuit in District Court. The City also said it had begun reviewing citizen complaints about a “public nuisance” condition on the property. That review could lead to a City Commission hearing and a possible abatement order.

A separate report on the local zoning meeting described a full house on a Tuesday to discuss the church’s request for a conditional use permit for an emergency homeless shelter. That report said the encampment had been on the property since the winter of 2021, when Pastor Jeff Wakely let homeless people stay on the property and began the encampment in the parking lot, which the report said broke zoning codes. The two reports differ on when the encampment began: the City’s release described the expansion as occurring over the past six months, while the second report dated it to the winter of 2021.

At the meeting, Great Falls city planning and development director Craig Raymond urged the board to vote against the permit, stating that the encampment violates several zoning laws. Pastor Jeff Wakely argued that the real problem is the lack of affordable housing in Great Falls, saying, “This is not a homeless issue; this is a housing issue.” Public comments ranged from concern about public safety to support for the church’s proposal. Some business owners said that allowing the encampment to continue unchecked was hurting their businesses, while supporters said homeless residents need opportunities such as the church’s shelter to help improve their circumstances.

The planning advisory board unanimously rejected the church’s permit request.