The Statewide Homeless Coalition will sponsor a regional focus group in Hays on Tuesday.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh, Hays.

Representatives of agencies that come in contact with people who are experiencing homelessness as well as public officials are encouraged to attend.

This includes representatives who provide shelter or service for people who are homeless, law enforcement officials, city and county government representatives, business and community leaders, elected representatives, and representatives of religious organizations.

Despite long-term gains in reducing the homeless population in communities nationwide, new homelessness numbers have increased for the first time in seven years, according to numbers released in December by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Contact Linda Mills at First Call for Help at 785-623-2800 or [email protected] for more information on the meeting.