Morgantown on course to ban homeless encampments – WV MetroNews

Morgantown is about to become the next West Virginia city to adopt a broad camping ban in an attempt to clean up homeless encampments. The city council advanced the ordinance through first reading last week on a narrow 4-3 vote.

The vote came after a contentious debate over several hours. Supporters believe the prohibition is necessary to protect public spaces, as well as the interests of businesses and citizens. Opponents argue the ban is cruel and ignores the deeper issues impacting homelessness.

Erin Shelton, board chair of Project Rainbow which provides housing services for the LGBTQ+ community, was among those who spoke at the council meeting against the ordinance. “I’m asking you now not to be the people who add more barriers and make access to housing even harder,” Shelton said. “And when you do it anyway, know it’s an act of cruelty and not an act of compassion.”

The community is not short on compassion. The city and county provide a range of services for the unhoused, for individuals with substance abuse issues and for anyone looking for a meal or health care. Advocates for the homeless argue there must be more services, but how much is enough?

City council hears continually from citizens and downtown business owners frustrated with issues associated with homelessness—open drug use, petty crime, litter and unsanitary conditions. The four council members who voted for the ordinance are not ignoring the problems of the homeless, but they are responding to the legitimate complaints of their constituents.

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 overturning a Ninth Circuit decision and affirmed an ordinance in Grants Pass, Oregon that prevents sleeping in public spaces. The majority found that such ordinances do not violate the 8^th Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Since then, communities across the country and even some states have passed public camping bans. Even California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order following the court’s decision authorizing state agencies to clear homeless encampments on state property. Newsom himself even pitched in to help clear an encampment in Los Angeles County.

Neither Morgantown nor any of these communities prohibiting camping on public property are criminalizing homelessness as advocates often like to argue. Most of these communities are still searching for remedies to the homeless issue, but they do not feel compelled to allow the homeless to take over public spaces or private property with encampments.

Allowing these encampments does nothing to address the issues associated with homelessness. It only generates resentment in those communities.