The manager of the Vineyard’s only homeless shelter has been going to the Island town governments in recent weeks in the hope that they will join Harbor Homes to start a committee or task force aimed at helping the growing homeless population.

In March, the shelter moves to two churches in Edgartown — St. Andrew’s Church and the Federated Church of Martha’s Vineyard — each of which will host guests for several nights in a row.

The next Tuesdays in the Newsroom at the Gazette office takes place Feb. 11 and will feature a discussion on homelessness on the Island and efforts to combat it.

With the frigid temperatures returning this week, Harbor Homes is implementing its daytime warming shelters for the second time this winter.

As winter weather descended on the Island this week, organizations have helped meet the needs of at-risk Islanders.

Harbor Homes opened its annual winter shelter this month and already a dozen people, several of whom are first time visitors, have checked in for at least one overnight stay.

Harbor Homes announced the purchase agreement last summer, but its wastewater application was denied by the town, according to the nonprofit.

Brian Morris, a trained recovery coach and the former access coordinator at Island Health Care, will lead the Island's homelessness prevention nonprofit.

A public outcry in support of the Island’s homeless community followed the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s decision to clear three homeless encampments in the state forest last week.