Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder on Tuesday announces the creation of a new task force to address the ongoing issue of homelessness in the city.

WHEELING — Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder on Tuesday announced the creation of a new task force to address the ongoing problem of homelessness in the city, taking a new approach that balances compassion with accountability.

Those being appointed to the task force will represent several different sectors of the community but will be guided by local cleric leaders. The task force membership is still being selected, but the mayor said individuals who will serve on the new panel will be announced in two weeks.

Efforts of the task force will not only focus on helping those in need but also addressing related concerns by other community members whose lives are being impacted by the issue of homelessness.

“This is a community problem,” the mayor said. “It’s a problem that cannot be ignored, and that’s why we’re here.”

Magruder noted the many positive things happening in Wheeling lately, such as the near completion of the Downtown Streetscape Project, the groundbreaking for the new WVU Medicine regional cancer center and other major investments in the community. The arrival of pleasant weather brings many outdoor activities to the waterfront and local parks, but lingering issues involving the homeless community are affecting the quality of life for people in the city, especially downtown, the mayor said.

“Physical improvements alone are not enough,” Magruder said. “If people do not feel safe and comfortable in bringing their families here, these investments will fall short. This is about protecting the future of our city.”

According to the mayor, a standard for the city of Wheeling must be to provide a safe, comfortable and orderly community that does not turn its back on those in need but also “does not accept disorder as the norm.” This is the vision of Wheeling to which city leaders are committed, Magruder said, noting this vision is being obstructed by ongoing problems.

“What we have seen is not acceptable,” the mayor said. “Some of the families in the area are telling us that they don’t feel comfortable bringing their children to the waterfront, the new splash pad or other public events. Some of our senior citizens hesitate to visit the library any longer. Visitors to Independence Hall have expressed concerns to the director there. Business owners are dealing with disruptions, disorder and behavior that drives customers away.”

Magruder said despite the multimillion-dollar beautification brought by the Streetscape work, more littering is being seen on sidewalks and at times human waste and used needles are part of the landscape as well.

“That is not compassion,” Magruder said. “That is not safe. That is not something that we’re going to ignore. There are people in our community who are struggling with addiction, with mental illness and with very difficult personal circumstances. They deserve help. That’s the key. They deserve dignity. But compassion does not mean allowing conditions to harm our broader community or even those individuals themselves.”

In recent years, city leaders in Wheeling have taken bold action to address problems associated with homelessness in the city. Council passed a camping ban in late 2023, which went into effect in 2024. An exempted homeless encampment had been permitted until late last year when officials took action to close it after conditions got out of control and became unsanitary and unsafe.

“The closure of the encampment last December was the right decision. It had become unsafe, unhealthy and unmanageable — a place where criminal activity, drug use and exploitation were occurring. Allowing that environment to continue was not humane. It was not safe for those living there, and it was not fair to the surrounding community.”

Closing the camp was not the end to the problem — it was the beginning of a new phase, Magruder said, noting the new Homeless Task Force will look at the issue with a much more coordinated approach.

“We already know it will not solve the problem of homelessness,” he said. “Perhaps it will help us in Wheeling better deal with that problem and help those poor people on the streets who need that help.”

The new task force will not be chaired by city council. It will be chaired by members of the faith-based community, the mayor said.

“They have wisdom, compassion and the right state of mind to lead,” Magruder said.

An executive committee of cleric leaders will guide the group, which will also include social service providers, mental health and addiction specialists, representatives from city council and city offices, public safety officials, health officials, downtown business operators and area residents.

“Their mission will be clear: reduce and aid those who are homeless and reduce the negative impact on our community while helping people move toward stability and recovery,” Magruder said.

While the task force is being solidified over the next two weeks, the city will take several other measures immediately to coincide with the effort.

“The city will be enforcing the rule of law,” Magruder said. “Let me be very clear on this point. While we will never, ever criminalize someone for simply being homeless, we will not tolerate illegal, harmful or intimidating behavior. Drug use, trespassing, littering, public indecency, public defecation and intimidation will be addressed consistently and lawfully.”

Magruder added that the city is installing surveillance cameras at strategic points throughout the downtown and on the waterfront. The city will increase sanitation efforts in impacted areas and rally advocacy for state and federal government to provide treatment facilities for addiction and mental illness.

“They need a place to go,” the mayor said, noting that many of those who end up in temporary treatment are released back to the streets a few days later and back into the cycle of addiction. “They need something to help them climb back to become productive members of society.”

The mayor asked citizens to be vigilant and to report any illegal or questionable behavior to the police department. He noted that calling the police should not be viewed as getting someone thrown in jail; it should in many circumstances be viewed as a step toward getting them help. The Wheeling Police Department’s Crisis Response Unit has been praised statewide for its approach toward intervention and diversion as opposed to arresting and punishing those in crisis.

“To those who are struggling and willing to accept help, this city will stand with you,” Magruder said. “Please know that. To those who choose behavior that harms or intimidates others or refuse available help, this city will hold you accountable.

“To our residents and business owners — we hear you. We see what you’re dealing with and we’re taking action. If people don’t want to come to our downtown, it’s a major problem for our business community and for our city.”

Residents and visitors to Wheeling are encouraged to patronize businesses and come to events at the waterfront, downtown, in East Wheeling and Center Wheeling and in other areas of town.

Deputy Chief Terry Walls of the Wheeling Police Department said there will be a police presence during gatherings in the city to help ensure safety.

“These problems are here and we want to help work with any groups, partners and resources to help get things fixed,” Walls said. “Whenever enforcement needs to take place, we will do that as well.”

Magruder said the chairman of the new task force has been selected, as have some other members, but they will be named at a later date in two weeks once the rest of the members of the panel are appointed. The task force will consist of 25-28 members and will provide periodic updates on what is happening in the effort to address the homelessness issues. Their job will be to let the public know what is going on, what is working and what is not working, the mayor said.

“I’m going to be honest with you — I’ve heard that many of the agencies will not work together,” Magruder said. “Maybe that’s not true. That’s what I hear. Maybe we can figure out how to better work together and how to bring more people to the table.”

Officials stressed that ultimately treatment centers will be a key to having an impact on the issue of homelessness, which is not unique to Wheeling.

“Some people think that city council wants to punish homeless people. We don’t,” Magruder said. “The reality is we want to help them.”

Ward 3 Councilwoman Connie Cain said providing help will involve following through with initial efforts.

“We have to work together,” Cain said. “My ward is where a lot of the problems are. There are people out here who want help. They want to get an apartment, but once they get into housing, they don’t know how to keep it. They need help and they need someone to basically show them how to live. We, together, can do this. We didn’t give up on them when we closed the camp.”

Cain added that embracing a negative attitude about different approaches to dealing with the homeless issue discourages people from moving forward.

“We can do this, but we have to do it together,” she said.