Residents urge better shelter data and services; volunteers report warming-shelter demand rising

Multiple members of the public used the Jan. 7 Morgantown City Council public-comment period to raise homelessness and shelter concerns, ask for clearer contract addenda on nondiscrimination provisions, and request interim lighting for a dark Greenmont street.

Lindsay Jacobs (5th Ward resident) urged the council to treat some published shelter data with caution, saying survey questions at the warming shelter record a person's "last residence" rather than whether they are a current Morgantown resident. "When someone goes up to use the shelter, there's a questionnaire that they fill out or someone sits down to fill out... and they ask them what their last, residence was," Jacobs said, asserting that using that field to label people as "non-residents" produces misleading results about who uses the warming or permanent shelter.

Jacobs also urged more public restrooms in downtown Morgantown and said local businesses and volunteers are stepping in to provide warming-space coverage on Sundays and Mondays.

Annie Crown raised contract-administration concerns about whether the city's standard contract addendum that extends protected classes beyond federal or state law (for example, adding gender identity and sexual orientation) is consistently attached to city contracts; she asked staff to ensure the city addendum is included with contract documents where required.

Stephanie Hunt, co-chair of the Greenmont Neighborhood Association, asked the council to prioritize repairs or replacement of the neighborhood's distinctive "lollipop" lights on Green Street and to consider temporary lighting until a budgeted permanent solution can be implemented.

Council received a detailed operational update for Hazel's House of Hope (H3) and warming-shelter activity later in the meeting. Staff reported that the warming shelter (opened Dec. 11'Dec. 31 under city and county funding) served 34 unique individuals and moved six into housing or other shelter in that period. Daily demand has increased since December: staff reported nights with 20 people served and recent capacity approaches the shelter's 22-bed limit; in extreme weather, the fire marshal and H3 staff said the facility can temporarily increase capacity by up to nine additional spaces in emergency situations with supervisory approval and additional staffing.

Ending

Speakers asked the council for clearer public reporting and operational support (restrooms, temporary lighting, and volunteer coordination) while residents and local organizations continue ad hoc warming-space efforts. Council members acknowledged the requests and staff said they will follow up where feasible.