Town may evict unmarried couples with kids

Couple with 3 kids denied occupancy permit after moving to Missouri town

Video: Life

'New Moon' nearly Blind Sided at box office
Nov. 30: "The Blind Side," an inspirational sports drama based on a true story and starring Sandra Bullock, was the big Thanksgiving weekend win for Hollywood. NBC's Chris Jansing reports.

Wedding bells to ring for Chelsea Clinton

Inside the life of a compulsive hoarder

Acrobat survives death-defying fall

Warren on Obama, abortion

NBC Field Notes

NBC News correspondents and producers across the U.S. shed light on the news of the day.

Photo features

Reuters	The Week in Pictures A starry night, cat’s mouth, a lighthouse stands tall, bear attack, a sea of balloons, H1N1 reaction and more news and feature photos from around the globe.
Reuters	PhotoBlog View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes.

updated 11:59 a.m. ET May 17, 2006

BLACK JACK, Missouri - The city council has rejected a measure allowing unmarried couples with multiple children to live together, and the mayor said those who fall into that category could soon face eviction.

Olivia Shelltrack and Fondrey Loving were denied an occupancy permit after moving into a home in this St. Louis suburb because they have three children and are not married.

The town's planning and zoning commission proposed a change in the law, but the measure was rejected Tuesday by the city council in a 5-3 vote.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

"I'm just shocked," Shelltrack said. "I really thought this would all be over, and we could go on with our lives."

The current ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together unless they are related by "blood, marriage or adoption." The defeated measure would have changed the definition of a family to include unmarried couples with two or more children.

LIVE VOTE

What do you think?

Mayor Norman McCourt declined to be interviewed but said in a statement that those who do not meet the town's definition of family could soon face eviction.

Black Jack's special counsel, Sheldon Stock, declined to say whether the city will seek to remove Loving and Shelltrack from their home.