Encampment for homeless moves onto public land
Morgantown Communications Manager Andrew Stacy said the city is working on a solution for a group of unsheltered individuals who moved onto vacant city property over the weekend in an effort to bring attention to their situation.
Since February, a homeless encampment known as Diamond Village had been permitted on private property in lower Greenmont, off Pennsylvania Avenue.
However, notice posted by the property owner set July 18 as the deadline for the land to be cleared. According to Liira Raines, with Justice for Diamond Village and Our Future West Virginia, about 20 residents of the encampment moved onto an adjoining piece of property owned by the city of Morgantown.
A press release issued by the group Justice for Diamond Village said the individuals would occupy the site until the city met two demands — the identification of a piece of public property where the camp could set up until a permanent solution was identified and the inclusion of Diamond Village residents in any group working to that end.
Asked Monday if the city is working to meet those demands and whether the city would allow the camp to remain on public property until a permanent solution is realized, Stacy said, “The city is currently working with stakeholders to develop a plan. We will provide more information once the details of the plan have been finalized.”
Further, Stacy said the city has not posted notice to vacate the property, which would start a two-week clock before the site could be cleared.
Information shared by Justice for Diamond Village points out that moving the camp during the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis goes against CDC guidelines, which state, “If individual housing options are not available, allow people who are living unsheltered or in encampments to remain where they are.”
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