Morgantown Advances Public Camping Ban Aimed At The Area’s Homeless 

A camping ban that affects homeless people in Morgantown is another step closer to implementation. 

The Morgantown City Council voted 4 – 3 to advance a new article of City Code entitled “Camping on Public Property” Tuesday night.

The ordinance would expand an existing camping ban to all public property and carries fines as high as $500 per day.

Community members have consistently shown up in numbers over the past month in council meetings to mostly voice their opposition to what they see as an attack on the homeless.

Speakers like Annie Cronin York credited the council for updating the ordinance to include more diversionary practices,such as offering shelter before citation. But they also point to a broad lack of services. 

“I’m not opposed to something being done here,” she said. “I think something needs to be done, and I’m glad to see that so much work has been done and so many changes made, but I think we have far to go, and I’m not sure what the rush is.”

If passed in September, Morgantown would be the latest West Virginia city to restrict urban encampments. Wheeling and Parkersburg have taken similar action over the past year.