I’ve never been homeless, though I once did share a two-bedroom apartment with eight people, which may technically qualify.

Unfortunately, many people have been and continue to be in St. Lawrence County, which has long had an “invisible” homeless problem.

In recent years though, the curtain has been pulled back.

Last year, we saw numerous reports of a growing homeless population in the Ogdensburg area.

The problem was exacerbated by the county’s drug problem and led to human waste and needles becoming a common sight in the city’s parks.

St. Lawrence County’s massive geography combined with its low population makes providing services particularly expensive and difficult to administer.

There are many organizations that offer some services, but navigating the path to public assistance tends to be a deterrent to many who need help the most.

I don’t have up-to-date numbers on the county’s homeless population, but I feel confident in saying I doubt it’s improved significantly since a story I wrote some time ago.

In a 2016 report, it was estimated that as many as 1,000 people were living homeless in St. Lawrence County.

A 2013 report noted that more than 223 families had sought help for shelter from the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services.

According to the state Education Department, 533 children from pre-K through grade 12 in St. Lawrence County’s 17 school districts were counted as homeless at some point during 2014-15.

Most, 485, found shelter by “doubling up” with relatives or friends of their parents.

Five were sheltered for a time in a hotel or motel.

Thirty-eight were “sheltered” in a “primary nighttime residence” other than a hotel or motel, or a friend or relative’s home.

Five were “unsheltered,” staying in cars, parks, campgrounds, temporary trailers, or abandoned buildings.

Counting the number of homeless adults is more difficult and accurate numbers are hard to come by.

Speaking with people in the know on the issue, I’m not sure that isn’t by design.

Each year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts a homelessness assessment.

The goal is to get a snapshot of the homeless population in a particular moment of time and use that as a sort of census to determine the number of homeless on a single night in a given area.

The problem with the survey is it’s held in January.

That’s a problem in places like North Country, where the homeless population becomes particularly invisible.

The bigger problem then becomes that these numbers are used to target funding and services. In other words, we were using bad numbers to make determinations on spending and targeting funds.

My estimation, though I’m no expert, is St. Lawrence County’s being overlooked.

In recent years, local leaders have questioned if a homeless shelter is needed in St. Lawrence County. I don’t know the answer, but I know it’s a conversation that needs to continue.

In the meantime, I think it’s time to reach out to those in power and seek a change on when the homeless survey is done, because nothing works well in the January where we live.

Jimmy Lawton is news editor of North Country This Week and NorthCountryNow.com