Mention the word homeless and images of people sleeping on park benches come to mind.

For many of us such urban homelessness is the only frame of reference we have.

Rural homelessness, however, is often much more difficult to spot.

Generally the homeless in our area actually have a roof over their heads most, if not all, of the time. But it’s quite likely the roof’s location changes a good bit.

Our community’s homelessness manifests itself by people living with friends and relatives, perhaps bouncing from place to place.

Nearly 100 pupils in the Natchez-Adams School District, qualify as being homeless.

That number may surprise you, and it should.

But the problem isn’t just an imaginary one, created by an overly liberal definition, as some extreme social conservatives might argue.

It is, in fact, a serious problem that our local teachers confront on a daily basis.

Children perform their best when they live, work and study in a routine.

That’s something nearly impossible to achieve when “home” may change three or four times each week.

Logic tells us those students also tend to be among the first to drop out of school, too. Often dropping out is the first step down a spiraling life path that ends in further poverty, drug use or criminal activity.

No clear, easy answers exist in such cases. However an awareness of the problem and constructive discussions by civic and community leaders is a good place to begin.