For the past decade, the Open Homes Fellowship has been operating out of a Central Park Avenue location in Orange County. The program uses the principles of the Christian faith to help individuals addicted to drugs.

"Our program introduces the men and helps them get a relationship with Jesus Christ," said Wes Carlson, administrator of Open Homes Fellowship.

But residents in the neighborhood said the program is growing beyond its main building and classrooms. Across the street, the Open Homes Fellowship is using several duplexes for those recovering from their addiction.

The county is supporting residents, saying the program is violating zoning laws. The neighborhood is zoned residential, which means a church or an addiction-treatment facility would have to apply for a special exception.

"Zoning is the county's way of trying to keep neighborhoods as neighborhoods," said Assistant County Attorney Gary Glassman. "You have to really balance both interests -- the interests of those who are recovering with those who live in the neighborhood and say, 'We don't want that here.'"

The Open Homes Fellowship was denied a special exception from the county. A federal judge will now decide if the facility can stay open.

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