CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Charleston police are out with a program to help homeless transients find their way back home.
The Family Reunification Program allows a person a one-way bus ticket out of Charleston.
Police will dismiss any minor charges against a transient criminal and will pay for a one-way $120-$140 ticket to their destination.
“We make sure they have resources there like family. We don’t just ship them out,” said Charleston Police Chief Steve Cooper. “We make sure they’ve got somewhere to go and people there that can probably help them get on their feet there.”
Cooper explained the program last week on “580 Live” with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones.
The initiative started in August after months of criminal activity involving the homeless population in the Capital City. Cooper said people have been traveling to Charleston to take advantage of the free meals and other services.
“They take advantage of those services and a lot of times they’re elbowing out the local working poor or our local homeless population,” he said.
Instead of locking them up, Cooper said they will offer them a free ride out of the city. The program is voluntary.30
“It’s like a deferral. The agreement is if you come back within the next three years, we’re going to refile the charges and charge them for the bus ticket,” he said.
Cooper said nearly 20 homeless individuals have participated in the program so far.