I don’t see it as government refusing to allow shelter in a cold snap or persecuting the church. They didn’t go kick everyone out. The city gave notices that in order to do so, the building must be up to code. I read it as they supported the venture, but wanted the safety in place just like anywhere else, which the church ignored more than once.
Pre-national attention they could have done this. Pre “cold snap” they could have done this. The couple (a husband and wife run the church) did a ton of investing in this building, installing showers and rooms, etc. They just ignored the safety pieces that they decided weren’t important.
Next door is less a shelter than halfway house. It has around a dozen people at any given time who live there long term and who are screened and only allowed to stay if they promise to praise the Lord and volunteer at a church (this is not hyperbole). They do not take in people during a cold snap.
I’m not sure about the general homeless situation in Ohio. Most states open winter shelters during cold snaps, which I’m sure Ohio did, but tons of them can require no needles, drug use, etc so the people just don’t go. I don’t know if that’s the case here.
However, when I was looking into that halfway house, it seems tons of people used to wait around a nearby park as they waiting for their appointments, and could wait several days hoping for a spot. This seemed to be at least a portion of the church population