MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following a committee of the whole discussion on homelessness and panhandling, Morgantown City Council members learned there may be no easy solution that will
rid city streets of the undesirable behavior.
Three agencies made presentations before council Tuesday addressing concerns ranging from the legality of a possible ordinance to make certain behavior illegal in city limits to responses to panhandlers.
Interim City Manager Glen Kelly said he thought the presentations had a lot to offer.
“It gave a little more light and hopefully gave council more background in how to come up with more holistic solutions.”
Council has been informed that some activity, loitering and begging, are protected through the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech constitutional amendments.
That raises difficulty for police to even issue citations to stop the behavior.
Another issue is separating the difference between panhandling and homelessness. Charles “Alli” Jackson, PATH Outreach Coordinator who works directly with the homeless, said that can be difficult at times.
“Even though you house them, they still come back to Morgantown to panhandle. Some of them are housed here in Morgantown, a lot of that are homeless. They want to be housed right near downtown. Of course you can’t house everybody downtown; we just don’t have that kind of housing. So, a lot of people that are within commuting distance to Morgantown commute to Morgantown to panhandle.”
Police can enforce citations against panhandling that includes physical contact or behavior that would “cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act” according to recent presentation by Morgantown City Police Department. “If they are aggressive or violent, call 911. If you are approached for money, tell them ‘Sorry’,” summarized Kelly.
Jackson offers similar advice and much like others who spoke, offered another way to help. “The average person can go to any of the social agencies and make a donation.”
Jackson mentioned United Way and Christian Help as one of the multiple agencies that take donations on a regular basis.
Panhandling will be discussed at next Tuesday’s regular city council meeting.