WISCASSET — Local organizations and individuals in Lincoln County will be training Wednesday, Jan. 14, so they may participate in the Annual Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Residents on Jan. 28.

This is a nation-wide count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January, including people who are sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and Safe Havens.

The count will be undertaken by volunteers, and more community residents are needed! Training will be provided on Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. at St. Philips Church hall, located at 12 Hodge St. in Wiscasset. Kelly Watson, homeless information resource officer with Maine- Housing, will present information about the count, how the data is collected and its value in developing programs.

The Point-in-Time Count process is an opportunity to learn more about issues facing homeless residents of our towns, become familiar with available resources, and talk about how services and facilities can be improved. These counts aren’t perfect, but they do provide a single-night “snapshot” and a consistent method that allows towns and cities to see year-by-year changes and progress being made to end homelessness.

This is only the second year for a local, Lincoln County count. The meeting Wednesday is open to the public, and community groups, churches, town officials, and others are welcome to attend.

For more information, call Mary Ellen Barnes, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, at 882-5188.

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