A church in downtown Regina has fenced off its property, blocking access to those who had long sought sanctuary on the front steps. The church says the risk of fire was too great to allow the homeless to remain there.

It’s unfortunate that it has come to this but we’ve experienced four fires around the church property since June and the Board of Trustees had met. They have decided to protect the property belonging to the church,” Barb Shourounis, board chair for Knox Metropolitan Church said.

Some others feel it points to the desperation.

“Imagine sleeping like that underneath the church to feel safe. It must be rough, like people after you or whatnot,” Peterson’s friend Leon Clifford Cummings said.