NWA streets not paved in gold! “The census found that about 839 homeless people reside in the two-county area. Of that number, about 397 are children.” Ah, but NWA has some of the most finely appointed churches in the state, including Ronnie Floyd 48 million dollar monument to himself.

Our Problem, Too

As reported in the Northwest Arkansas Times this week, the Northwest Arkansas Housing Coalition undertook a 24-hour census of the homeless in Benton and Washington counties last week. The census found that about 839 homeless people reside in the two-county area. Of that number, about 397 are children.

“ In some ways, I’m shocked by how high the numbers are, ” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, project director for the census. “ There are just more than I might have expected. ”

On one hand, we share Fitzpatrick’s surprise — and we imagine a large percentage of our fellow northwest Arkansans share it as well. Some might even be incredulous. After all, one wouldn’t expect this region, the name of which has become synonymous with booming success, to be home to more than 800 homeless people, almost 400 of whom are children.