EDITORIAL: Helping Hands

University Police found a creativeUniversity Police found a creativesolution to a daunting problem -University Police found a creativesolution to a daunting problem -the homeless in People's Park.University Police found a creativesolution to a daunting problem -the homeless in People's Park.___________________________________ Toward the end of summer, a group of homeless men and women began staying in People's Park on the corner of 40th and Walnut Streets. They set up shelters and began to live in the small area. After a while, people in the area started to complain; the site became so unhealthy and unsanitary that the Health Department came to inspect it. In September alone, the police received 84 complaints. On the practical side, it was becoming increasingly clear that the people could not remain in the park. On the human side, it was becoming increasingly difficult to just clear individuals with nothing from the only place they could remotely call "home." But University Police showed careful consideration for both concerns, devising a solution satisfactory to both sides. Today, the police will clear all the homeless out of the park. And they will not be alone. Workers from Horizon House, a city-funded agency that provides services to the homeless, will also be on hand to convince people to enter shelters, join alcohol and drug rehabiliatation or high school equivalency degree programs if they need to. According to one Horizon House worker, 37 homeless people have been taken from campus and into the agency's network of services. The cooperation between the University Police and Horizon House is commendable. They found a compassionate way to face a problem whose solution seemed heavy-handed. There is no easy way to end homelessness. The problem may not be solved even if we offer to feed and rehabilitate all those who need it. It definitely won't be solved if we erect a high fence and hire roving squads of guards to remove those who do not belong. Homelessness is unfortunately part of our urban society. This week, University Police found a creative solution to a pressing manifestation of the homeless problem. They walked a fine line between reason and emotion and should be praised for it. We hope this balance of security and law with services and compassion will continue.