Martinsburg City Council Approves Emergency Opioid Settlement Funds to Keep Bethany House Open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Martinsburg Approves Emergency Funding to Keep Bethany House Open Through End of Year

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – July 14, 2026 — The City of Martinsburg has approved emergency funding from its opioid settlement allocation to help ensure that Bethany House remains open and operational through at least December 31, 2026, preserving critical shelter and support services for women and children experiencing homelessness while community stakeholders pursue permanent funding solutions for the organization.

The emergency funding will provide temporary stability for Bethany House and the women and children who rely on its services, preventing an interruption in assistance while a sustainable path forward is developed.

Operated by Community Networks, Inc., Bethany House has served the Eastern Panhandle since 1986. The shelter can accommodate up to 32 women and children at a time and provides 24-hour shelter, case management, meals, laundry facilities, life-skills training, and other supportive services designed to help residents achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

Mayor Kevin Knowles expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort that made the funding possible.

"Bethany House has been a vital community resource for four decades, providing shelter, safety, and support services for women and children facing homelessness," said Mayor Kevin Knowles. "I want to thank the members of City Council for their support in approving this emergency funding and for recognizing the importance of maintaining these services while long-term solutions are explored.

This action will help ensure that Bethany House can continue serving up to 32 women and children while community partners work together to secure a sustainable future for this important organization. While this funding is intended to address an immediate need, we are hopeful it will provide the time necessary for local and regional stakeholders to develop a long-term solution that allows Bethany House to continue its mission of serving vulnerable women and children in our community."

For more almost four decades, Bethany House received funding through a state-administered homelessness assistance program. In recent years, administration of those funds shifted to the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, which now oversees the competitive grant process for homelessness service providers throughout the state. Following the transition to a competitive statewide grant process, Bethany House has experienced significant reductions in funding that created operational challenges, ultimately leading to the need for emergency assistance from the City.

City officials emphasized that the funding is intended as a bridge to support operations through the end of the year while discussions continue regarding long-term organizational and financial sustainability.

Bethany House recently announced that funding reductions threatened its ability to maintain existing services. The organization indicated that operational changes would significantly impact the women and families who rely on the shelter. As the area's only dedicated women's shelter and the only shelter resource specifically serving women with children, Bethany House serves a unique and critical role in the region's safety net.

The City recognizes that addressing homelessness and housing instability requires regional collaboration and shared responsibility. Over the coming months, community leaders, charitable organizations, government entities, faith-based organizations, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders will explore a variety of options, including grants, partnerships, philanthropic support, and other funding mechanisms that may help provide long-term stability for Bethany House and the services it provides.

The City encourages public agencies, nonprofit organizations, charitable foundations, businesses, faith-based organizations, and individual donors to join the ongoing effort to identify sustainable long-term funding solutions for Bethany House.

About Bethany House

Bethany House, a program of Community Networks, Inc., opened in 1986 and provides emergency shelter and supportive services for women and children experiencing homelessness. The facility can accommodate up to 32 women and children at a time and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services include emergency shelter, case management, meals, laundry facilities, life-skills training, and referrals to community resources.