PARIS — In an effort to better understand the homeless crisis and how it affects the Oxford Hills Area, the Anderson-Staples American Legion Post 112 will conduct a community discussion on homelessness Monday, Jan. 19.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Discussion starts at 7 p.m.

Speakers will be from Tri-County Mental health Services, the PATH program, Maine State Housing Authority and the American Legion.

According to the State of Homelessness in America 2014 report compiled by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Homeless Research Institute, 610,042 people experienced homelessness.

Individuals, families and children are wandering the streets, sleeping in cars, at bus stops and on park benches.

In this nation, 49,933 veterans were homeless.

“Although some individuals choose to be homeless because they prefer that lifestyle, we need to take a proactive, rather than a reactive, approach to homelessness,” says Anderson-Staples service officer and former Homeless Veterans Outreach counselor Rick Nugent.

“There needs to be a network of resources and contacts that the at-risk individual and family can turn to for assistance before they become a point-in-time statistic.”

For additional information, contact Nugent at [email protected].