Sarasota, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The Christian non-profit housing ministry Habitat for Humanity stands accused of helping a Florida-based Planned Parenthood overcome a hurdle to building a new abortion business. A pro-life advocate says Planned Parenthood would have been stymied in building the new center without the group's help.

Planned Parenthood has been looking to build a new abortion facility in the Rosemary District north of downtown Sarasota.

However, according to local zoning rules, the abortion business can't build the new center unless a multi-family housing unit is built on the back of the lot.

According to Jim Sedlak of STOPP International, a Planned Parenthood watchdog group, the pro-abortion group approached the local planning board and asked for a five-year extension since it is not a builder and couldn't find a buyer for the lot.

The board denied the request and insisted Planned Parenthood obtain a building permit for the residential building.

Planned Parenthood came up with a creative solution and sold the lot to Habitat for Humanity for $10.

"So, Habitat for Humanity, an organization that claims to be a Christian ministry, is now working with Planned Parenthood," Sedlak told LifeNews.com.

"Habitat for Humanity said that this was only a real estate transaction, but Planned Parenthood could not have opened the abortion facility if the lot was not used for a residential building," he explained. "So, yes, Habitat for Humanity is helping Planned Parenthood open its doors."

LifeNews.com contacted officials with Habitat for Humanity and has not received a response for a request for comment.

Sedlak said the Sarasota City Commission met on May 5 and approved the plan to sell the land to Habitat.

He noted that a letter Planned Parenthood filed with the city said, "We are excited to have Habitat be a part of the Planned Parenthood team."

Sedlak is calling on pro-life advocates to contact Habitat for Humanity and urge the organization to break the agreement it made with Planned Parenthood.

"Please contact both the Sarasota and the international office and let them know that Habitat should have nothing to do with Planned Parenthood," he said.

ACTION: Contact Habitat for Humanity at 1757 N. East Ave., Sarasota, FL 34234 or call 941-365-0700. Also contact Habitat for Humanity International at 1-800-HABITAT or 1-800-461-9330.