MARQUETTE -- As the snow starts falling and the temperatures drop, it's hard to imagine being homeless.

But for a Lutheran Social Services client who wished to remain anonymous, the memory is all too familiar.

"Sleeping in the car, started sleeping in the car," he says.  "Then I heard about Lutheran Services and I came to them, they helped me to get started.  I got my own place, I got a 40-hour job, and I’m on my own now."

Case managers from Luthern Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan say this is a huge problem in our area.

"I don't think that people realize how big of a problem it is in a rural area," says Kendra Goedert.  "I think the stigma is when people think of homelessness, they think of bigger cities."

Robin Roy, program coordinator of the Room at the Inn, agrees.  She says numbers are growing; with a capacity of 15 clients, last month they were averaging 13 a night.  And with winter upon us, she expects it to soon be full.

"A loss of job opportunities in the community, certainly hurting folks," emphasizes Roy.  "There's the cutbacks in a lot of the social services are hurting people, there's less money out there for housing support."

Room at the Inn is an emergency night shelter, whereas Lutheran Social Services offers a transitional housing program.  They both coordinate with other agencies in the area.

So what can the community do?  How can we help with the problem of homelessness?  Agency officials say there are actually several ways.

Whether it's through volunteering or awareness, many of these programs are driven by community help.