For 36 years, Father Bob Caudill has fed homeless people at All Saints Catholic Mission in Oakland Park, a ministry he says he will not stop even as the city has fined him more than $500,000 over a zoning dispute that has stretched on for more than a decade.
For the past 12 years, Caudill has been locked in a standoff with the city, which alleges he is operating a non-permitted soup kitchen. Caudill said the conflict began after a rezoning.
“2014 they decided to rezone power line and they told me fallaciously that you have to stop feeding, you're not feeding in for the new zoning,” Caudill told reporters with WFOR.
Despite the city’s position, Caudill has continued feeding people and also offers showers and spiritual guidance. He said the cost of continuing that work has been steep.
“Long and short of this is the case, we are suing them to stop the harassment because it's over $500,000. It's $105- 125 a day since 2014, and they put a lien on our building,” Caudill told the outlet.
Caudill already took the city to court in January, but Oakland Park’s attorney successfully got the case dismissed because of a missed deadline. Caudill told the outlet he is preparing to return to court again.
Among those who rely on the mission is Jeremiah Williams, who said he is currently homeless and has been coming to the church for the past few months while working to get a license to drive a semi. Asked where he slept, Williams told the station, “Yeah, I sleep outside.”
Williams told WFOR that the mission provides basic necessities and a place to regroup.
“I come here to take showers. I come here to eat breakfast and lunch. I use my SNAP card to go purchase other items. I go to the park. I exercise there, and, I even come to mass here,” Williams told the station.
He said Caudill’s help has been difficult to find elsewhere.
“I don't know any other church or any other pastor that will help us the way that he has,” Williams told WFOR.
Caudill said his motivation is rooted in his faith.
“So Christ was very clear about us helping his, his people, and it doesn't matter what stage of life or who you are. Everybody's just a child of God, point blank, right?” he told WFOR.
As he continues his legal fight, Caudill asked supporters to pray for the mission. “Pray for us. Help us win this trial. Amen,” he told the station, laughing.