Religious services run afoul of HUD policy
Sunday mornings aren’t the same around the Elm Towers now that the largely elderly and disabled residents can’t gather for preaching and singing in a common space on the first floor of the subsidized building.
“The ones traveling to churches by vans or individuals picking them up, they’ll continue to go to church that way,” said Howard Embler, a resident of the High Point high-rise who has attended the services. “The ones not able to get out and go, I guess will be without church services. It’s stopped.”
The gatherings violate a U.S. Housing and Urban Development policy that forbids organizations receiving HUD funds from “engaging in inherently religious activities,” said Rachael Matthews, the spokeswoman for the High Point Housing Authority, which operates the complex that receives federal money.
She said what residents do in their own rooms is another matter.
A copy of the policy was slipped under the doors of residents a few weeks ago after complaints about use of the room for Sunday services, Embler said. A smaller gathering area upstairs, he said, often overflowed during a Wednesday night Bible study.
Asked whether the regulation refers to the housing authority holding services instead of residents coming together in the common area on their own, Matthews said the policy wouldn’t differentiate.
“It’s on the property belonging to the housing authority,” Matthews said.
“We’ve talked to HUD about this. They said, 'Yes, you are doing exactly the right thing.’”
Calls to Greensboro’s HUD office were not returned by late Thursday.
Matthews referred to Policy 24, CFR 5.109, which reads: “Organizations that receive direct HUD funds under a HUD program or activity may not engage in inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization, as part of the programs or services directly funded under the HUD program or activity.
“If any organization conducts such activities, the activities must be offered separately, in the time or location, from the programs, activities, or services supported by the direct HUD funds, and participation must be voluntary for the beneficiaries of these programs, activities, or services.”
Embler said he feels his constitutional rights have been violated. “As far as I know, the churches are not funded by HUD,” Embler said. “As far as I know, the ministers were coming in here doing charity work.”
Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com
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