The stories are painful and desperate: A woman who lives in an old trailer with no electricity or running water, a homeless man who snuck into cars to sleep at night, a mental patient who bounced back after an unsuccessful suicide attempt and is today employed and caring for himself.

"We've had them from all walks of life. We've had men who used to make

six figures and because of substance abuse problems, they've lost it all. You just never know," said KathyBunn, the case manager for Lawrence County's Healthcare for the Homeless program.

This week is National Health Care for the Homeless Week, set aside to draw attention to the plight of those who lack the most basic of necessities including the means to get well and stay well. Lawrence County's Healthcare for the homeless program is operated by the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization at the Kemp Family Medical Center in Coal Grove.

Think Lawrence County doesn't have a homeless population?

All of the people mentioned at the beginning of this story are local people. "We probably have 365 active files, people who come in at some point in the year," Bunn said.

The term homeless can mean a variety of situations, not just people sleeping in cardboard boxes under bridges.

"It can mean two families doubled up because one has no place else to live; it can mean people in transition, in between jobs; people living in unsafe, unsanitary housing," Bunn said. "With the economic situation the way it is here, I'm surprised we don't have more people on the program.

"They come in off the street, see a physician, get a complete workup, including dental and vision, they get prescriptions if they need them and then they are channeled to other programs," she said.

Patients are referred to other local agencies for assistance with employment, housing and emergency food.

"Everyone needs help at some time or another," Bunn said. "It is important to us as a community that we do not let people fall through the cracks."