CLEVELAND — Homeless families with older children can be forced to make a heart wrenching decision, sleep on the streets or split up their families at different shelters.
That's exactly what happened to Christen Klocko back in 2017. Her oldest son was 13 then and Haven of Rest Ministries said he was too old to stay in their shelter. They insisted he go to a youth shelter alone instead of staying with the rest of his family.
"He's going to be by my side the whole time, he wouldn't do anything," she said.
Klocko refused and slept between her car and a motel for weeks so her entire family could be together.
Vincent Curry, the executive director at the Fair Housing Advocates Association, says these practices are discriminatory.
"Not because of anything he’s done, not because he’s terrorizing, not because of anything but simply because he’s a 13-year-old boy he has to go someplace else—that’s wrong," he said.
So he took his complaints to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. After a lengthy investigation, the commission believes its likely the policy is unlawful.
Haven of Rest is appealing the decision now. They told News 5 over the phone they plan to defend what they think is right.
"If the Civil Rights Commission upholds the probable cause finding, then the parties can elect to have the issue addressed in a court of common pleas," said Curry.
As for Klocko, she moved back to Arizona because she couldn’t find a stable place to live.
"I am hopeful that the Haven will change their policy to a less restrictive one that allows families to stay together," said Curry.
