Overview

• The DOJ Civil Rights Division announced an investigation to determine if Rainsville violated the ADA, the Fair Housing Act, or RLUIPA by rejecting a Christian addiction-recovery application.
• A complaint alleged the city acted to keep away "drug addicts," prompting the federal review of the decision to bar a men’s discipleship and recovery program.
• Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the division will safeguard the rights of people in recovery and the ability of religious groups to minister to them.
• A letter cited by reporting identifies Total Recovery Ministries as the applicant and states the zoning board denied a variance request in November 2022 after neighborhood opposition.
• Local outlets reported the city did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the DOJ emphasized the inquiry is preliminary with no findings yet.