Can UC Berkeley plan to house homeless people inspire other campuses to tackle the crisis?

UC Berkeley, the city of Berkeley, and nonprofit partners unveiled plans Wednesday to provide interim housing at a converted motel, as well as meals and social services, to unsheltered people sleeping in the iconic People’s Park.

Homeless outreach coordinator Ari Neulight acknowledges that opinions about the plan remain varied. Many people he works with in the park say their two main desires are safe and affordable housing and a drop-in center for rest, food and services. However, “the park is a complicated, contested space that everyone has an opinion about,” Neulight said. “No matter what happens at the park, there will always be a range of opinions.”