We shouldn’t be surprised that Jamestown police officers are spending additional time patrolling near the Code Blue warming center on Washington Street.

Some of the issues that are drawing police to be in the area in the morning and afternoon are similar to what was happening when the homeless were congregating in Brooklyn Square and other areas of the city last summer – fights, harassing people, littering and disorderly conduct. Extra patrols have been placed near the warming center while a two-officer car is in the area from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. when car dealerships and other businesses are opening and closing each day.

“I’m sympathetic towards that population, but also we have to look at the totality of the circumstances of our businesses and employees down there and we have to look at the whole picture,” said councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large and Public Safety Committee chairman.

Russell is right. As spring nears, we can’t repeat the mistakes of the past. The last time the homeless population spiked in Jamestown, there was a massive effort to find winter shelter but efforts to deal with the problem waned quickly the next year as the homeless population largely went back into hiding. This year we must spend the summer months creating a true plan based on all we’ve learned over the past year.

County officials are working on a transitional housing, and we understand that it’s a lengthy process to find a suitable site, purchase it, receive state approvals and create the necessary partnerships with area organizations that can help the homeless. It’s not an easy process. But while permanent solutions continue to elude us, we wonder if there are temporary solutions that can provide more help than simply providing temporary housing. Create supportive housing that includes mental health treatment.

For too long county jails were a place where those with addiction or mental health issues were taken when their private issues became public nuisances that resulted in criminal charges – particularly when they couldn’t afford to post bail. Years later we still haven’t figured out how to deal with people’s private issues when they affect the general public. Police officers are expected now to deal with issues that require a mental health professional instead of a law enforcement officer. Bail reform has simply shifted the burden from one part of the criminal justice system to another.

Increased patrols treat symptoms of homelessness and keep some sort of protection on Washington Street for those who live and work in the area. But we need the state’s help to provide the resources necessary to begin treating the root causes of homelessness – and that help so far has been elusive.