FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The sudden shutdown of Fresno’s Soul Housing shelter, which left around 200 people without a place to stay and several others without a job, may have violated state labor law, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).

In an email to FOX26, a spokesperson for the DIR confirmed the department “has not received a Cal-WARN Act exemption request from Soul Housing.”

Under the state’s Cal-WARN Act, employers with 75 or more workers are required to provide 60 days’ written notice before laying off 50 or more employees within a 30-day period.

[RELATED] Fresno leaders rush to help 200 people from being displaced after sudden shelter shutdown

The law is designed to give workers and local communities time to prepare for large-scale layoffs or closures.

The department also clarified that any exemptions from the Cal-WARN Act must be requested before layoffs occur, not after.

Employers who violate the act could face penalties of up to $500 per day, and may be required to pay workers up to 60 days of back pay and benefits.

“Workers who are still owed wages are encouraged to file a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office,” the DIR spokesperson said.

Soul Housing’s sudden closure earlier this month prompted city and county leaders to act quickly to find housing for the nearly 200 residents who were forced to leave with little notice.

The facility had been providing recuperative care for over hundreds of individuals, many of whom were experiencing homelessness.