Kevin P. Durkin, partner at Clifford Law Offices, headed a team of lawyers who worked for the past month to keep a church shelter open in south suburban Orland Park. And they lent their legal expertise on a pro bono basis.
Hope Covenant Church opened a homeless shelter one night a week for needy residents on Oct. 1 until the village sued to close it down citing various violations of village ordinances. In mid-November, Durkin successfully argued in Cook County Circuit Court for the denial of a temporary restraining order. Judge Eve M. Reilly of the Chancery Division ruled in favor of the Church.
In the meantime, Durkin was able to reach a compromise agreement with the village allowing the shelter to remain open. A hearing set for Monday (Dec. 2, 2019) on a permanent injunction against the church was dropped.
“I took a personal interest in helping this church because my parents were very involved with the work of BEDS Plus,” Durkin said of the organization working with the church on the shelter. “It is important that everyone try to do their part to help those less fortunate, and we cannot turn our backs on the needy, especially at this time of year.”
The lawyers at Clifford Law Offices – Durkin, Kristofer Riddle, Hon. Henry Simmons (ret.), James Pullos and Tracy Brammeier – worked for free to keep open the church’s shelter in its basement at 14401 West Av. The church was working with BEDS Plus to house the homeless on Tuesday nights and at least 50 people were utilizing the free service.
Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady expressed his gratitude to Durkin and his team for their work in Durkin’s community to help those less fortunate, particularly at the holiday season.