A managed homeless camp should be Morgantown’s priority

Morgantown’s ban on homeless camping in the city is done. Yes, we realize a petition has been filed calling for City Council the ban to be overturned, but it’s uncertain that will happen. Putting the matter before voters also likely won’t lead to a change.
The bigger issue now for city leaders is this: the homeless are still here, many of whom are finding places to stay, either in shelters or on the streets. What’s the long-term plan to deal with Morgantown’s homeless population?
Looking to the city’s north could yield some possible answers.
In Wheeling, a homeless camping ban that went into effect earlier this year seems to be yielding positive results. Service providers for the homeless are able to access those folks at one location and overall safety for those residing in the camp has increased. Having the homeless at one location also has increased public safety and lessened concerns by some over increased levels of trash and drug paraphernalia littering city streets.
Surely such a solution could work here and could lessen concerns by those who believe the camping ban itself is criminalizing homelessness.
“Individuals sleeping outside on public property in city limits would be fined and potentially jailed for sleeping outdoors, even with nowhere to go,” the Morgantown Coalition for Housing Action said of the city’s camping ban.
“Morgantown only has enough low-barrier shelter space to serve roughly a quarter of the unhoused and unsheltered community.”
A solution exists. It’s now up to city leaders in Morgantown to follow the model.