U. won't clear park for now

The University wants the homeless out of People's Park, but will not ask them to leave until efforts are made to provide them with shelter and drug and alcohol treatment, University Police Lt. Susan Holmes said. "We will not [allow] anyone to reside on the University property," Holmes said. "[But we want to] provide them with the services they need to better their situation. If they chose to not take advantage of those services, we will notify them that they will not be able to reside, and what the possible ramifications will be." For several weeks, a number of homeless people have been storing their belongings and sleeping in the park, which is next to the Free Library of Philadelphia on Walnut Street. The University owns the property, University officials said. In an effort to deal with the situation, University Police are working with the University's Office of Community Partnerships, the independent University City Hospitality Coalition and Horizon House. Horizon House is a city-funded organization that works with homeless people, people who are mentally disabled, and individuals with drug and alcohol problems. "It's the first time to my knowledge that we've all worked together like this," UCHC Executive Director David Lynn said. "We can clear the people out of the park, but they would move into surrounding neighborhoods. We can clear people out of the park – it is the University's private property – but they'll be back." Lynn added, "I think the University knows that, and that's why they're trying other solutions, and I give them credit for that." Glenn Bryan, the University's director of community relations, agreed the University should first offer help to the people before taking action. "It's private property first of all, it's not appropriate for people to be living [there]. The bottom line is, they should not be living in that situation," he said. "Part of the strategy is to offer alternatives and services to the individuals that are there." Alice Herzon, the director of planning and development for Horizon House, has been working closely with the University. She said her organization would offer help combating drug and alcohol abuse among the homeless in People's Park, and offer them shelter space. "We do have places where we can place people with substance abuse problems and get them treatment," she said. "The whole problem is they have to want to get treatment." Herzon added that many of the people on the streets are there because they have been "red carded" or not allowed into the shelters because of unruly behavior or drug and alcohol abuse. Herzon noted that Horizon House has a special program for individuals who have been red carded. Lynn and Herzon both said they think there are more homeless people in West Philadelphia, probably because many homeless have left Center City in recent months. "I'm not going to say that they're being bussed out to West Philadelphia, but I am going to say that they're being encouraged to move out of Center City, and West Philadelphia is the closest place," Herzon said. "Also, it's a liberal University community and a more accepting environment." Lynn said that many soup kitchens in other areas of the city are facing community pressure to close because they draw homeless to the area. "There's a lot of services, and there is one particular draw to the University campus, and that is food," he said.