When local governments choose failed policies in the name of "safety," we're left to believe that cruelty - not solutions - is the point. We'll be @ the City of Morgantown - City Hall Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday at 7p to oppose Councilor Michael's camping ban. We hope you join us.

“My ex just destroyed everything I own yesterday." Earlier this year, Wheeling enacted a camping ban aimed at keeping homeless people from sleeping on its streets.The only exception to the law is a 70-yard area, reports Lori Kersey. buff.ly/4flH8Xd

Went to Wheeling recently for an update on its camping ban, in light of the Grants Pass ruling. I couldn't stop thinking about the women staying in the city's one legal camping site. westvirginiawatch.com/2024/07/30/wom…

Since Wheeling’s urban camping ban is back in the headlines, I want to reshare my story from April 28, 2024, talking about safety concerns. “All, with a capital A-L-L, all of our women have been injured in some form or another,” Brossman said. wheelingfreepress.com/p/concerns-ove…

📣 BREAKING 📣 The West Virginia State Conference of the NAACP has filed suit in Kanawha County to remedy WV agencies' failure to collect data as required by law to improve the justice system for children and youth in the state. mountainstatejustice.org/wp-content/upl…

"As of 2015 West Virginia juveniles were confined at a rate of 330 of every 100,000 children, a rate higher than any other state and more than double the national rate." wvpublic.org/naacp-sues-sta…

“My intention is not, was never, to criminalize homelessness,” [Morgantown City Councilor Louise Michaels] said. But that is expressly what Councilor Michaels' sleeping ban does. WVPB wvpublic.org/community-advo…

“We’re just trying to get them to a point where they want to seek treatment and help and shelter.." - Morgantown City Councilor Louise Michaels Yea, fining people who can't pay & sending them to jail doesn't do this, but DOES make it harder to get housed tinyurl.com/536ees6w

“The smartest lawyers in the country are...creating new legal theories and causes of action... if cities think that we’re done suing them to protect the rights of the most vulnerable people in our communities, they are sadly mistaken.” - MSJ WVPB tinyurl.com/536ees6w

Good luck but not goodbye to MSJ staff attorney and all-around gold medal human, Laura, as she heads off for her next adventure. Her kindness, her laughter, and her doggo, Barry, will be sorely missed 🥹

The quotes in this Mountain State Spotlight piece are something else. “My compassion has a limit,” [Delegate Bryan Ward] said," regarding the safety of one of the most vulnerable communities in West Virginia. mountainstatespotlight.org/2024/08/30/pil…

FACTS

In a 4:3 vote, the City of Morgantown just passed a cruel, impractical ban on people using tents, sleeping bags, and blankets in public to survive living on the streets.   While no city has successfully arrested its way out of homelessness, that won't stop Morgantown from trying.

Do you rent in the Morgantown area? MSJ and WV Housing Justice are seeking feedback from tenants through this short 5-10 minute survey to inform our housing justice efforts in 2025! forms.office.com/r/KQXpP54a1g

Today @ noon EST! Join MSJ and organizers from across the country to debrief and strategize post-Grants Pass. #housingnothandcuffs National Homelessness Law Center