WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) - A West Virginia city responded Monday to a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union that raised concerns with officials’ plans to clear a homeless encampment.
Authorities in Wheeling began efforts last week to remove informal living setups erected in a section of city-owned property after receiving numerous criminal complaints from residents and contractors, The Intelligencer reported.
The West Virginia ACLU chapter asked the city on Sunday to commit to halting the removal of the encampments and instead establish housing options for the individuals that would be displaced, according to a copy of the letter obtained by news outlets.
The organization contended that clearing the camp would go against the statewide shelter-in-place order meant to protect against the spread of the coronavirus - as well as Centers for Disease Control guidelines recommending homeless encampments not be vacated.
Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said Monday that officials were reviewing the concerns, but did not say whether they would be addressed, according to news outlets.
Herron cited data indicating Wheeling police received more than 200 calls for service near the encampment in the past year and also pointed to an ordinance prohibiting camping on city property.
“The city of Wheeling is sensitive to homeless people and their struggles. However, we will not tolerate criminal activity,” he stated.
Herron said officials worked with a local nonprofit a week in advance to notify the people living there that the camp would be vacated.
The ACLU said it may seek a preliminary injunction to keep Wheeling from tearing down encampments.
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