MaineHousing will provide training for the annual point-in-time count of homeless people in Lincoln County during the Lincoln County Community Resources January meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, from 3 to 5 p.m., at St. Philips Church Hall, 12 Hodge Street in Wiscasset.

This will be the first year that training is provided locally, and we're pleased to be working with Tedford Housing on the count which will take place Jan. 28 all across the state and country.

The Point-in-Time Count process is also importantly a chance for us to learn more about issues facing homeless residents of our towns, about resources available, and to talk about how services and facilities can be improved.

The focus of our count is outreach, that is counting families and individuals who are staying in a hotel or motel paid for by non-profit groups, churches, government programs, etc., or may be living in a car, abandoned building, or another place not meant for human living.

Getting organized ahead of time is key to doing this well. Your familiarity with local groups (public or private) who provide some support to homeless residents or with any areas or buildings that may be used for temporary living in your towns is all good information to share.

Come to the training even if you might not be able to participate in the count — spreading the word, raising awareness of this and all the related issues is important, too. Please share this meeting info with others in your town and around the county.