The Northern Wisconsin Initiative to Stop Homelessness (N*WISH) Continuum of Care will join homeless coalitions around the state in completing a local count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas counties on Wednesday, July 31. Staff and volunteers will count persons in shelters for the night as well as persons residing on the streets, under bridges and similar places not meant for human habitation.

The Point-in-Time Count will start with a kick-off event at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church partnering with The Table, a dinner at the church that is offered the last two days of the month and is open to the community. Members of the N*WISH Continuum of Care will have an outreach and education booth at The Table to provide resource and information about homelessness that evening.

The collected data will assist the community in understanding the scope of local homelessness. It will also help with engaging in programs and service development, and in applying for state and federal funding.

N*WISH Continuum of Care was established in November 2009. This collaborative system exists to increase awareness and acts to promote and support the eradication of homelessness in the aforementioned counties. N*WISH is comprised of various state government and public housing agencies, non-profit and faith-based organizations, and funding and advocacy groups.

For more information, call Lori Hallas at (715) 365-7842.