LEWISTON – On Wednesday, a group of people will gather to remember a segment of the population that goes largely unnoticed.

At Raymond Park in Lewiston, the Lewiston-Auburn Alliance for the Homeless will hold a candlelight vigil as part of the observance of National Homeless Memorial Day. The event is held each year on the winter solstice.

The group, known collectively as LASH, says many people are convinced the Twin Cities do not have a homeless problem. But according to a yearly survey conducted by the Maine State Housing Authority, dozens of people here are living on the streets.

The 2005 survey found that on one night last January, there were 101 homeless people in Lewiston and Auburn. Fifty-four of those counted were in shelters, 21 were in transitional living facilities, and 26 were unsheltered.

Last year, hundreds of people were given emergency shelter by the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, Hope Haven, New Beginnings’ and St. Martin’s shelters. Help is also provided by the Salvation Army and the general assistance offices in both cities. The Jubilee Center at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lewiston serves hot meals and assists with other needs of the homeless.

The state housing survey is helpful, but doesn’t count all the homeless people in Lewiston and Auburn, according to LASH. Many are getting help outside of the shelter system. They are the relatives taken in for a “short stay” or the neighbor’s teenage kid who goes to live with someone for a few days, the group states.

LASH has identified a need for an adult day service center for the homeless and has been working toward that goal. It hopes to create more housing options for people with no or low income, combined with a safe place for the homeless during the day.