WHEELING, W.Va. — The rapid development of Marcellus shale gas production in northern West Virginia has been a huge boost to the region’s economy. However, the opportunities have come at a price to some.
Lisa Badia, Executive Director of the Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless, recently told state lawmakers the boom in natural gas has forced some people onto Wheeling’s streets.
The average rent rate recognized by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency three years ago was $610 a month. However, with drilling companies sending workers into the region, landlords have more than doubled the average cost of a basic rental property.
“While I appreciate they have an opportunity to have a lucrative and successful business, it is really crushing the working families and the poor,” Badia said on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Landlords are quick to jump on the opportunity to cash in because, in many cases, the rent payment is guaranteed by a workers’ employer. The change has made those who cannot afford the higher rents homeless.
“More and more homeless folks are staying in shelters longer. They can’t find apartments even when they find work,” she said. “The people working the service jobs this industry is creating just don’t earn enough to get the housing they need.”
Badia said she isn’t ignoring the benefits of the Marcellus shale development and wants it to continue. However, she said the wave of economic activity spurred by the growth isn’t reaching enough people.
“What we’ve done is developed a lot of different services and different types of housing,” said Badia.
She said her agency work to create opportunities for the homeless to get into a house and move out of their unexpected situations, but added the problem isn’t getting solved fast enough.