The city last week took the difficult but necessary step of completing the “sweeps” of the homelessness encampment that had established itself — and hardened in place — in the streets of Kakaako Makai.

The site had grown out of control, as evidenced by a series of assaults and other crimes, violations that affected some neighbors and passers-by but mostly threatened the homeless campers themselves. The city couldn’t allow that to continue.

What made the action difficult were the limited options government can offer to these people.

State officials are looking at ways to find homes, or at least shelter, for more of the homeless. But it’s not happening fast enough. Most of the people rousted from Kakaako have scattered, some finding refuge around Kewalo Basin rather than accept the offers of space at the existing shelters.

There must be more ways to accommodate the homeless on an emergency basis.

Scott Morishige, the state’s new homelessness coordinator, said the search is on for new sites with programs that are a better fit for the people who reject the shelters.

The state should follow the lead of other locales where shelters have loosened conditions for clients — admitting those with pets, for example.

All of that is under discussion, Morishige said, but he declined to give many specifics. One likely change he cited, though, is extending the hours. A shelter open during the day is especially important to those who work nights.

Additionally, he said, state agencies are trying various re-housing strategies through their contractors, the social service agencies that help the homeless with myriad problems.

It’s a multi-pronged action, he said, attempting to make the best use of available resources.

City and state officials now have a shared focus on homeless families and their needs, which is a good thing. Raising healthy children is enough of a challenge without the added instability of homelessness, and the outright hazards of life on the streets.

Morishige said agencies are being asked to expand programs supplying short-term housing grants and to move families up on the priority list. Some of these parents are able to pay for housing but lack the funds for first-month rent, deposits and other up-front costs, he said.

This seems to be a wise investment. Because the grants are not ongoing subsidies, and only amount to a leg-up for a short time, limited resources can stretch to benefit more of the needy families.

The emphasis on “housing first” services for the chronically homeless — getting them in stable housing, in tandem with health and social services — will continue, as it should. Morishige said the agencies are redoubling outreach to landlords, assuring them that these services will be in place for their tenants.

But the lessons of Kakaako have demonstrated what we already knew: It’s already long past time for expanded emergency capacity. The public deserves their common spaces back. And the homeless who have scattered need a safe, accommodating place to find supportive services — and to work toward something better.