Ark Aid Mission issued zoning notice by city after 6 months at First Baptist Church

The city said in a statement that the zoning notice was prompted by 'a number of complaints about the services being delivered through Ark Aid and the First Baptist Church.'

The City of London has given Ark Aid Street Mission until Oct. 4 to cease services or seek a zoning amendment for its community drop-in space at the First Baptist Church, where the agency serves hundreds in the homeless community daily.

Ark Aid moved its services to the First Baptist Church in May following a fire that broke out at its Dundas Street location.

The fire was deemed suspicious and the estimated damage cost was pegged at $50,000 as officials said that renovations wouldn’t be completed until March 2023.

Six months later, the organization said it received notice Wednesday that it was violating municipal zoning rules.

“This is really difficult news that a zoning bylaw could actually shut down the only drop-in space that currently is open for 20 or more people in our community,” said Sara Campbell, executive director for Ark Aid Street Mission. “We are seeing between 300 and 400 people come through these doors and we are offering washrooms and showers and clothing and food and care and community.

“The church is to be a place where we can open the doors, welcome people, provide support, that’s what the church has done historically,” she added. “Many of our social services, hospitals and other critical elements of how we serve in our community started from the church. So, if the church can’t be a place of welcome for this community, where can we be welcoming people who are not welcome in other places?”

Ed Wilson, chair of the board of Ark Aid, seconded Campbell’s statement.