ICC Note: Residents living in properties owned by Mercy Housing were recently told that they must remove the Nativity from the public spaces in their housing complex. A spokesperson for the company stated that they do not permit residents to display any religious symbols in common areas due to the Fair Housing Act. Reports indicate that many residents were disappointed with the restrictions as it has been a tradition for them to decorate the public spaces.

By Todd Starnes

12/20/2016 United States (Fox News) – Residents at an affordable housing complex for low-income renters were ordered to remove Nativity scenes and other religious symbols from public areas, the Joplin Globe reports.

“It was like somebody brought in a vacuum cleaner and sucked the joy out,” resident Linda Hopper told the newspaper.

Mercy Village is owned by Mercy Housing Inc., a Denver-based nonprofit. A spokesperson for the company blamed the Fair Housing Act for evicting the Baby Jesus.

“Because of the way the Fair Housing rules work, any decorations have to be religion neutral (in shared spaces),” spokesperson Kate Peterson said in a statement to the newspaper. “So Mercy Housing, as most other property owners, does not allow religiously themed decorations in the common areas at any time of the year.”

…

Residents had done a wonderful job turning the second-floor public area of the complex into a festive Christmas show piece. The Globe report indicates there was a Christmas tree with a star, candles, a Santa figurine and a Nativity scene.

“It just felt very welcoming and festive,” Ms. Hopper told the newspaper. “We need places like that. We need to see beauty and peace; we need to have that tradition followed.”

…
[Full Story]