A middle school custodian was suspended and later resigned after secretly living above the school auditorium for six months. He furnished the space with beds, furniture, and a mini-fridge, and had his four children stay with him on weekends because he had nowhere else to go.

[u/detectiverobert]

[u/take_number_two]

This exactly. As a building code consultant, I can tell you that code requirements for residential occupancies are very different from business occupancies.

[u/Patient-Success673 → u/take_number_two]

As the average joe, I can say that even though it's understandable, it's stupid on most any individual case to say 'you can't sleep here'

[u/WestAnalysis8889 → u/Patient-Success673]

You could be like the lady from House of the Dragon and say "I'm not allowing you to stay here but I cannot control where a grown man wants to reside." 

[u/Wedgiemen7 → u/WestAnalysis8889]

Taking advice from Lady Jeyne Arryn when she said that to Rhaena eh?

[u/Old_Respect8445 → u/Patient-Success673]

lol exactly, I know multiple people who own businesses that have let their workers/family stay for brief periods of time. Nothing bad happened to them. The shelters here are always full and the weather is really bad almost all the time. I can’t imagine not opening my doors to someone in need, genuinely, cause I have many times. I get that it’s not ideal, it’s not long-term, but to not only turn your back on somebody for that night and know they’re on the streets but to also fire them and take away their only chance to maybe not be homeless just because of some kind of codes or regulations it’s just to me personally unthinkable, but hey, maybe this kind of naivety is why we’re not small business owners 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/ITriedSoHard419-68 → u/take_number_two]

The streets aren’t up to residential code, either.

Is it a legal liability? Sure. Is it inherently unsafe or unethical? Doubt it.

[u/Liefvikingmonster2 → u/take_number_two]

Building codes need to be updated.

[u/AdditionalQuietime → u/take_number_two]

Well yea no shit lol its not about permanence its about temporary survival