City Official: Homeless Moved Out Of Pope Zone Weren't Forced Into Shelters
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - City officials are responding after reports on KYW Newsradio about homeless people being swept out of LOVE Park for the Papal visit.
Homeless people were removed from there on Wednesday night. Marie Nahikian, Director of Philadelphia's Office of Supportive Housing, says that sweep was carried out by the Secret Service and not the city:
"The Secret Service maintains the internal security in what's known as the 'red zone.' All individuals who leave during that time are then allowed to come back."
However, she says, 70 people were relocated, willingly, between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning:
"They have not been moved. They have chosen to come into housing and shelter."
Also, contrary to a previous report, Nahikian says the city's homeless shelters are not over capacity. She says there is room for 2,500 people in those shelters, and there's more space in other non-profit facilities.
She adds another security sweep will be conducted in the area of Independence Hall before the Saturday event with the Pope.
