MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A marathon, at times contentious, Tuesday night meeting of Morgantown City Council produced narrow approval of a new urban camping ban in the city.
Council approved the ordinance aimed at getting a handle on the city’s homeless population on a 4 to 3 vote.
The ordinance, “1157 Camping on Public Property,” will only allow camping in designated areas that have access to water, sewer, and garbage collection. Violations of the ordinance start with a warning and can be as severe as $500 per day and up to 30 days in jail for repeated violations.
Council passed two amendments that ensure people who fall under the alternative sentencing provisions have access to case managers for housing, not just mental health and substance abuse counselors.
Fifth Ward Councilor Danielle Trumble, who voted against the measure, said she was getting pressure from some members of the community to vote in favor of the ban.
Trumble said some with influence in the community have told her if the ban is passed, violators would be taken to the North Central Regional Jail and would not have transportation back to Morgantown. Trumble said at times the pressure turned to coercion.
“I’ve been verbally and publicly threatened, harassed, and screamed at by very rich and very powerful men over this ordinance who thought they would threaten me to change my vote.”
Mountain State Justice Advocacy and Access Program Director Lindsey Jacobs was among more than 30 who were given the opportunity to speak without a time limit but were asked to remain on the camping ban subject.
“If we thought criminalization solved social problems? Drugs would not be an issue; the war on drugs would have worked,” Jacobs said. “But overwhelmingly, what we know is that criminal penalties do not deter crime.”
Local social worker Erin Shelton told councilors they could opt to learn about programs and ideas that help homeless populations and implement them here. The investment required by the city for police and litigation of the proposed camping ban could be spent instead on things that will make an immediate, positive difference.
“You could provide funding to expand housing for foster youth, disabled folks and chronically homeless individuals,” Shelton said. “You could pass a source of income discrimination ban, so when it is finally someone’s turn to get a housing voucher, they do have options.”
Daniel Lightner has overcome addiction and homelessness in Morgantown and calls the camping ban “a difficult but necessary step” in dealing with addiction. He said the ordinance is not an unfair restriction but a potential pathway from victimhood to a productive life.
“We can’t turn our backs and pretend the problem does not exist; we need to face it together with empathy and determination, and this ordinance is a step in the right direction,” Lightner said. “I know how hard it is to break out of the cycle of homelessness, but I know it’s possible.”
Ulrich Rose is a homeless resident of the city with a job and a medical condition that requires him to spend $2,000 monthly or his organs will begin shutting down. He said homelessness for him is all he has.
“When I heard about this ordinance, it made me feel afraid—more afraid than I normally do every night,” Rose said. “Being homeless isn’t a choice.”
Photo: ACLU West Virginia
Community Outreach Director for the American Civil Liberties Union West Virginia, Mollie Kennedy, asked the council to reconsider the proposal and opt for evidence-based solutions suggested in the past, like “housing first.”
“Councilors Selin and Kawecki, you have had front-row seats to all of this, and if you had an ounce of political courage, you could stop this cycle from repeating itself right here,” Kennedy said. “After years of experts and advocates begging you to stop kicking people around the city.”
There will be a 30-day grace period observed prior to enactment to inform those who could be affected by the new ordinance and to allow time for Catholic Charities West Virginia to get established. Catholic Charities is preparing to resume intakes at the triage shelter formerly operated by Bartlett Housing Solutions which was closed earlier this year due to financial problems.
Trumble also asked for a meeting with the city representatives to the Mountain Line Transit Authority (MTLA) board to make it clear they want more financial support for bus service to Hazel’s House of Hope. She believes MLTA is not providing the level of support they should to support the city.
There is also a petition campaign to show opposition to the ordinance that Trumble volunteered to sign.
Council members Bill Kawecki, Dave Harshbarger, Louise Michael, and Deputy Mayor Jenny Selin voted in favor of the ordinance while Councilors Trumble, Brian Burcher and Mayor Joe Abu-Ghannam voted against it.