Homelessness policy and public property
Instead of advancing affordable housing or transit that connect people to jobs, the legislature focused on imposing jail time and higher fines for homeless people living on public property, while restoring limited funding to tear down abandoned buildings.
How should West Virginia respond to people who are homeless and living on public property?
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Sources
Mountain State Spotlight — https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/03/15/2026-legislative-session-wrap-up
Instead, they focused on imposing jail time and raising fines for homeless people living on public property.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Housing-first programs with no criminal penalties for sleeping in public when shelter is lacking
- Expand shelters and services; use citations only as a last resort
- Balance limited services with enforceable restrictions on camping in public spaces
- Increase fines and short jail stays to deter camping on public property
- Strictly criminalize public camping and prioritize rapid removal and prosecution