January 2nd, 2026 by WCBC Radio

The City of Wheeling closed a large homeless encampment in December. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed cities and towns to ban outdoor camping, and Wheeling joined around 150 localities nationwide implementing a no-camping ban. Community members say the decision was bad timing amid winter weather and the holiday season.  Vincent DeGeorge with Ohio Valley Mutual Aid says camp sweeps or bulldozing tents are not solutions to homelessness…

   

"They don't make people any more able to afford homes. Instead, they simply displace homeless people and make them more desperate.  The public is stepping up to support. We're having a lot of activity in our faith communities that have a particular interest in helping our neighbors who need it."