There is an article in today’s Gaston Gazette about a homeless man’s trek across our community.

As the east side of Gaston County grows, both “gateway” citities of Belmont and Mt. Holly must face the issue of adequate housing, sheltering, and relationships with the temporary homeless and the chronic homeless.

Our editorial board has a split opinion of solutions or steps necessary to address the issue in our small town. Homelessness is an issue that needs to be as close to a consensus agreement as possible for the problem to be addressed adequately. We are seeking our neighbor’s opinions and solutions.

Belmont and Mt. Holly have crisis management programs in the form of the BCO, CRO and SOCKS; temporary solutions for women and children at Catherine’s House; support for teens and young men through With Friends — although they had relocated to Gastonia; and, local Housing Authorities are addressing permanancy.

One thing is for sure, on this day, homeless families and individuals do exist in communities regardless of the impression of prosperity. How we respond to people in this situation identifies what type of community we are and we hope to be…