MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. — A family of four with a fifth on the way is running out of money, running out of time and running out of options.

It's a dangerous time for anyone to be exposed to the elements and that's especially true for a pregnant couple with two young children.

The four of them are wondering where to turn after being turned away by a local homeless shelter twice.

Folks at Paducah's River City Mission said it's a difficult situation but it's also a simple one: the husband couldn't pass a drug test, so he's disqualified. They don't accept single women, so the wife and kids are out. But the husband, who admits he did smoke marijuana weeks ago, said he's been clean since and he thinks this isn't about policy but prejudice instead.

It's been a long and difficult journey for a family seeking a better life and it came to a sudden stop at a truck stop in Reidland, Kentucky.

Maurice and Nicole Bell's car broke down. They have no money, no food and little hope. That's why they came to The River City Mission.

"As soon as you pull up, you feel safe at the place because you see the crosses. You think about what God can do for you. Automatically, you're thinking positive," Maurice Bell said.

But he said that positive thinking turned negative when they stepped inside.

"There was no 'Hi, how you doing? Nice to meet you. How you doing? what can we help you with?'" Nicole Bell said.

They came to the mission two weeks ago and were turned away because Maurice knew he couldn't pass a drug test.

Maurice said he's now drug-free and his wife could be minutes away from giving birth. So they tried again, this time with the help of a local pastor but still no luck.

"They totally shut us out. The same guy looked at us like we were crazy for coming back," Nicole Bell said.

The Bell's believe they were turned away because of the color of Maurice's skin.

"If I'd been a white guy, I'd been accepted. He automatically judged me, how I'm dressed, how I look," Maurice Bell said.

The pastor who went with the Bells on their second trip to the mission questioned the spirit of charity at River City.

"I don't see in scripture where Jesus said, 'Let me run you through this battery of tests to make sure you meet the criteria before I help you,'" Pastor Brian Hall said.

River City Mission Director Shirley Barlow said this is not about race. In fact, other black people are staying at the mission. The problem is rules. The couple was turned away because Maurice failed Tuesday's drug test.

"You have to at times when you're faced with a rule, you have to stand your ground and I had to stand my ground," Barlow said.

Now Maurice fears he may be out of options. His expectant wife and children may have to sleep in the car.

Maurice said he wants to make Paducah his home and he's well on his way to a better life. He got a job Tuesday. His first order of business is to save money so he can rent an apartment. He just needs somewhere to stay until then.

The family hasn't found a shelter that will take all of them and they want to stay together as a family, particularly with a baby due at any time. For the next few nights, the pastor said he's found someone who's willing to take the family in out of the heat.

The River City Mission is always in need of financial assistance. Tomorrow kicks off an indoor benefit yard sale where all the proceeds go to the mission.

The sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday at the old Wagner Candy building on Paducah's Joe Clifton Drive . They have thousands of items including furniture and appliances.