Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Since You Asked: Wimer Dam fish salvage yields nada natives ... Possible links between dead Oregon man, missing women investigated ... Cemetery tour highlights drifters, saloon keepers ... Since You Asked: Wimer Dam fish salvage yields nada natives ... Possible links between dead Oregon man, missing women investigated ... Cemetery tour highlights drifters, saloon keepers ... OUR VIEW Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email ... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email [email protected] . » Social News The Medford City Council made the right call last week when councilors agreed to pursue a plan to feed the homeless next to the Salvation Army thrift store on North Central Avenue. With sufficient conditions to address neighbors' concerns, the plan appears to be a solution the city has been seeking for several months. Food distribution was taking place in Hawthorne Park until the park closed for extensive renovations. But that location had drawbacks. The city's goal for the park improvements is to make Hawthorne more family-friendly, and the presence of large numbers of transients certainly makes that a tougher sell. When the park closed last summer for the year-long renovation work, city parks officials struggled to find another location where volunteers could set up a feeding program. Every possible site had problems and generated opposition. This latest proposal from the Salvation Army is still not a "perfect" location — something that does not exist — but it offers the best situation yet. Under the proposal embraced by the council on Thursday, the city would provide $25,000 in funding, which would pay to construct a concrete pad on a vacant lot behind the thrift store. The lot would be fenced, and the only access would be through the thrift store's parking lot on Central Avenue. That should prevent people from entering the site from Beatty Street, to the rear of the property. Residents along Beatty have expressed concern about people walking down their street to reach the site. Another advantage to this site is the Salvation Army organization itself, which is as experienced as anyone in serving the homeless. The Army also says it will welcome other organizations to use the site as long as they are committed to the work. The problem of homelessness does not lend itself to easy solutions. There will always be pros and cons. But this proposal appears to minimize problems, and even an imperfect plan is preferable to doing nothing. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501