MORGANTOWN – Fallout from Bartlett Housing Solutions’ 2024 financial collapse continues.
The West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness has been informed it must vacate the facility at 10 West Run Road.
The agency has operated various programs at the site since October 2024, when it stepped in for the failing Bartlett House at the request of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
WVCEH Chief Operations Officer Amanda Sisson said the agency has been renting the space from Bartlett Housing Solutions utilizing funding provided through HUD’s Continuum of Care program.
WVCEH never took ownership of the property as it had been used to secure funds for Bartlett Housing Solutions.
“We will be vacating the property by July 31 as Clear Mountain Bank has moved forward with the foreclosure on the loans obtained (and not paid) by Bartlett House,” Sisson told The Dominion Post via email.
The West Run facility currently houses 18 individuals through WVCEH’s Permanent Supportive Housing program, according to Director of Community Relations Ashley Hawkins.
“In addition to providing housing, the facility serves as a centralized location for a variety of supportive services, including occupational therapy, on-site clinics, case management, peer recovery support, and food services through the on-site kitchen,” Hawkins said. “The kitchen provides meals not only to residents of the facility but also to members of the broader community.”
This past winter, the facility further served as the community warming shelter in a joint operation between WVCEH and Catholic Charities West Virginia.
According to Hawkins, losing access to the facility will result in a “significant operational change” as WVCEH aims to continue housing and case management services through a “scattered-site model.”
“While we are certainly disappointed by the loss of the facility, our primary focus remains the well-being and housing stability of the individuals we serve,” Hawkins said. “Staff are actively working with current residents to identify alternative housing opportunities through local landlords and community partners, with the goal of ensuring there is no gap in housing for any participant currently enrolled in our programs.”
According to information available through the Monongalia County Assessor’s office, the building and 3.14-acre property was purchased by Bartlett House Inc. in 2010 for just over $1.5 million.
Bartlett House began bringing portions of the facility online starting in 2012. In 2016, a grand opening was held for Nitor Apartments with the goal of creating a 36-bed bridge program for chronically homeless individuals on the ground floor, and supportive, permanent housing apartments upstairs.
In March 2024, facing severe financial issues, Bartlett Housing Solutions announced the closure of its emergency shelter in Hazel’s House of Hope. Catholic Charities WV ultimately stepped in to take over operation of that space, which continues to operate as Grace Shelter.
A short time later, it was announced WVCEH was taking over operations at the West Run facility.
Hawkins said the effort to transition out of that facility is now under way.
“Our commitment to serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness remains unchanged, and we will continue working to connect participants with safe, stable housing and the resources necessary to maintain it,” she said.
