The timing could have been better. Rousting Santa Rosa’s homeless just before another series of winter storms could have been heartless. But this was not your typical intervention by police. When the city’s finest went to clear those camping in three downtown underpasses Wednesday, they were not there to clear them out — just to help city public works clean up. Given the heavy rains this fall and winter, these Highway 101 underpasses at Ninth, Sixth and Fifth streets have served as unofficial shelters for dozens of people, resulting in a build-up of belongings and other material that was blocking the sidewalks. Area residents had started to complain.
But the police weren’t forcing the homeless to relocate. On the contrary, the homeless had been given fair warning that the cleaning would occur, and they were allowed to return later in the day when the work was done. No arrests were made, and no citations were given out.
In fact, according to Jennielynn Holmes, director of shelter and housing with Catholic Charities Diocese of Santa Rosa, two outreach workers were on hand who helped five homeless people find space in local shelters. Instead of getting the boot, the homeless were given a hand. That deserves a thumbs up.
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