Church dismantles homeless encampment after city threatens fines
A Massachusetts church that opened its property to homeless people is dismantling its tent community after the city of Lawrence ordered the church to shut it down or face $1,200 in daily fines over public health and safety concerns.
House of Mercy Church in Lawrence began clearing out the tent encampment after receiving a cease-and-desist order from the city over alleged zoning violations. The independent, nondenominational church is also a social services nonprofit that offers meals, showers and employment assistance.
Lawrence Mayor Brian De Peña defended the city’s actions in a statement on social media, saying the order was related to health and safety concerns.
“The City of Lawrence does not oppose charitable organizations providing food, shelter, clothing or humanitarian assistance to individuals in need,” De Peña said.
“However, humanitarian intentions do not exempt any organization, property owner, or individual from complying with applicable [...] public safety requirements,” he added.
De Peña said unauthorized encampments, temporary housing structures and sanitation facilities operating without necessary permits and inspections raise concerns about the welfare of both residents and the surrounding community.
The mayor also described homelessness as an increasingly serious problem for Lawrence, saying the city’s homeless population had grown to more than 400 people, according to local estimates. De Peña said the city spent more than $1.9 million responding to homelessness-related conditions and incidents during the 2026 fiscal year.
De Peña’s office and the House of Mercy did not immediately respond to The Christian Post’s request for comment. This article will be updated if a response is received.
In a social media post on Saturday, the House of Mercy Church asked for donations to help pay the $1,200 in fines the city issued.
“We really want to find a way to work with the city and continue to help our homeless friends living in tents to better their lives through stability, services, and by continuing to provide them with a safe place to sleep,” the church said.
The tent encampment had provided space for about 60 homeless people, with 26 tents and two shipping containers being converted into temporary housing, according to MassLive and WBZ NewsRadio.
Pastor Roger Farah acknowledged that the encampment was not the ideal solution but said he felt a duty to take action.
“As a Christian, as a lover of God, someone needs to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves,” Farah said.
Last week, the House of Mercy received notices from the city’s inspectional services department, informing the self-labeled “homeless church” that it faced four violations of local ordinances and state law. The church was issued a $1,200 fine and told that a reinspection was scheduled for Tuesday. Farah told members of the tent community they would have to clear out, MassLive reported.
Kassy Gallant, 37, a resident of the tent community, said the encampment gave her a sense of stability. She described herself as a drifter.
“I’m not constantly commuting, trying to go from city to city, trying to find myself somewhere to sleep, find a man to house me, find a woman that doesn’t mind caring for me,” she said. “I can wake up, I can go to the bathroom, I can shower, I can feed myself. I’m very, very, very appreciative.”
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: samantha.kamman@christianpost.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
