A homeless shelter in Temple, Texas, is facing intense scrutiny after questions were raised about the building’s structural integrity and other safety issues, including the possible presence of asbestos, a carcinogen linked to the development of mesothelioma. Martha’s Kitchen is a homeless shelter dedicated to feeding, clothing, and housing the homeless.

When concerns about the safety of the shelter were raised, the city attempted to shut down the facility. The Temple Building and Standards Commission ordered Martha’s Kitchen to close its thrift store, furniture warehouse and men’s dormitory earlier this month. City officials cited plumbing and electrical problems at additional structures, and ordered repairs to be made within 90 days.

However, on Wednesday, a judge blocked the closure of the shelter. Judge Gordon Adams issued a temporary injunction and ordered another hearing to be held on August 26. Judge Adams found that closing the shelter would harm the community. The city of Temple may appeal the decision, which they were not pleased with. "The repairs must be done, and they must still be done in accordance with our codes, including getting an asbestos survey and also getting permits," Assistant City Manager Kim Foutz said. "And so what this does is they will still need to go through those actions in order to do the repairs."

But others who would have lost a place to live are happy with the judge’s ruling. "It’s given me a place to stay," Martha’s Kitchen resident Robert Jones said. "It’s given me food in my stomach. It’s clothed me." Another homeless man agreed with Jones, saying, "There are a lot of guys here that have no place to go," shelter resident Jimmy Hoyle said. "They’re disabled and things like that, and I’m not going to have them out on the street."

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