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In recent months, city leaders in Wheeling have admitted to spending millions in taxpayer dollars in an attempt to solve the homeless crisis. That's on top of additional taxpayer funding that's now being directed to The Life Hub -- a line of public funding that, now started, likely will only increase in the future.
In recent years we've learned of abandoned buildings burning in Wheeling after homeless had taken up residence to stay warm; the Wheeling Fire Department also has expended plenty of resources over the past few years in responding to fire calls at homeless encampments, along with medical calls -- calls for which the average taxpaying resident receives a hefty bill.
Add to that what we've learned in recent weeks: the cost to replace the decking on the Market Street Bridge linking downtown to Center Wheeling -- a project that just got underway -- is $1.3 million. The only reason that decking is being replaced now is due to a fire set by homeless individuals 19 months ago that got so hot, it melted parts of the bridge's substructure. There's been no accountability for the fire except for the lifting of $1.3 million from the pockets of taxpayers to foot the bill.
What does all this mean? That there's a real cost to the city's homeless crisis -- and the cost just keeps rising. No one wants to see people homeless and suffering. We all can agree that compassion has to be part of how we address this matter. But when we reach the level we're at now -- outright accommodation with no real plan for the future -- then it's past the point where action needs taken.
That's really the issue that needs discussed right now -- what is Wheeling's direction with its homeless population? We are at a crisis level right now; yet, every time the city takes an action that is in the best interests of taxpayers and the city in general, local social service agencies intervene and lawsuits are filed.
In the meantime, the issue that goes untouched is this: just when is Wheeling -- the city, homeless advocates and others -- going to formulate a real plan to address homelessness? Throwing money at the problem -- as this council has shown over the past few years -- does nothing. All the while, average folks just trying to live life are actively avoiding areas of town due to the homeless.
It's time for this issue to be dealt with. Doing anything less is a disservice to Wheeling's residents.