NITRO, W.Va. — While there are no plans to build a homeless shelter or addiction treatment facility in Nitro, the Nitro City Council unanimously approved an amended ordinance Tuesday limiting where such facilities should be built within city limits.
The amended ordinance states social service facilities, addiction treatment centers, food distribution centers cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, library, athletic field, senior citizen living facility, public swimming pool or city park.
The changes were passed on first reading.
Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said the amendment is a precaution following a series of issues in Charleston regarding homeless facilities, noting Covenant House.
“Overall, does Nitro have a homeless problem? No,” he said. “We have a very active mission team that works to help people in town to provide them food.”
Members of city council noted the brief closure of Covenant House as the reason for the ordinance; the facility closed earlier this month after trash, graffiti and human waste were found outside of the building.
“Unfortunately, when those facilities come into town, they bring some drug usage,” Casebolt said. “That is a big cause for concern for city council.”
Council will vote on the changes at its Aug. 7 meeting. If it passes, the new ordinance will go into effect the following day.