COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A non-profit social services organization located in the west Columbus neighborhood of Franklinton is being sued by the city for “attracting criminal activity.”

Sanctuary Night, which is located on 1195 Sullivant Avenue, is facing a nuisance lawsuit filed by Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. The lawsuit details more than 200 calls received by Columbus police and fire to the property for alleged criminal activity that took place between June 2022 and January 2025.

On its website, Sanctuary Night describes its mission as “serving vulnerable womxn who are at risk for sexual exploitation,” with the Sullivant Avenue location providing a “place to rest, eat, connect and get desired resources.”

Court documents said that large groups would gather outside the facility when it first opened in 2022, with some people in those groups allegedly using drugs. Other nuisance activity began to increase over time, with neighbors reporting porch pirate thefts and people bathing, urinating, defecating, or engaging in sex acts near the property.

Over the span of two years, Columbus Fire was called 40 times for “substance-abuse events” including 16 overdoses. Police surveilled the area early in 2025 and determined traffic patterns mimicked those regularly seen with prostitution, which court documents allege happened outside the property after it closed at night.

A staff member told police that other staff members at Sanctuary Night allowed drug use inside the property, according to the city attorney’s office.

This February, the city’s property action team sent the organization a letter demanding it mitigate nuisance activities. The city states Sanctuary Night did not agree to the letter, leading to the lawsuit.

Sanctuary Night issued a statement in response to the lawsuit, calling it an “unnecessary escalation that will negatively impact a vulnerable community of women in central Ohio.”

“Over the past few months, we have made progress in addressing issues and will continue working toward solutions that meet the needs of our community, neighbors and most importantly, the women we support,” said company representatives in the statement. “We are committed to continuing to improve and hope to resolve this situation swiftly for the good of the women in need.”

You can read the full lawsuit below.