JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Homelessness is an issue unnoticed by many in Rock County. Unlike bigger cities like New York or Chicago, or even Madison where people might occasionally see someone sleeping on a bench on the Capitol Square, Janesville's homeless are less obvious.

In the wake of the recession, the number of homeless people is on the rise.

On a Wednesday night, Rodney Ebert, of Janesville, found a warm bed. When it's too cold to survive outside, he comes to the G.I.F.T.S Men's Shelter in Janesville.

"I tell you, it's been a lifesaver. It really has," said Ebert.

Ebert is part of what's being called an "invisible population" in Rock County.

He's one of more than 200 homeless people hiding in plain sight, and that number is growing.

"We find that the guys, yes they need shelter, yes they need food and a place to stay and someone to talk to, but really they need hope," said Paul Benish, of G.I.F.T.S. Men's Shelter.

Ebert's story is common among Rock County's homeless. He said he has run out of places to turn.

"It was pretty tough. It was really tough. You kind of burn your bridges, your friends and everything. They get tired of you sleeping on their couch and everything, and you can only ding family members so long," said Ebert.

When he's is not at the shelter, he makes it a point not to be found.

"Yeah, I've got my nice little camp site, where I don't let nobody know about it," said Ebert.

Marc Perry, with Community Action Inc., coordinates a homeless count each January.

"We divide Rock County into 13 territories," said Perry.

Volunteers cover the entire county, searching for people like Ebert surviving in the elements. They offer care packages and track statistics.

"This isn't all evidence of homeless individuals or people living or staying here. But some of it definitely is," said Perry, pointing out debris left near a beaten path on a hillside near Janesville's Traxler Park.

The count gives local organizations a clearer picture of the need for services.

"We've known that people have slept here in the past," said Perry, referring to a small outbuilding in the park.

Soda cans, food containers, cigarette butts left behind are signs someone might have spent the night at a particular location. Perry said bridges, picnic tables, anything offering shelter is a potential home for someone on the street

"It's one of those spaces that, in this space, it's off the beaten path. You wouldn't expect someone at night to come down here and bother you. If you can curl up in a bed roll or a sleeping bag underneath here, you're secure for the night," Perry said of the outbuilding.

As winter approaches, Ebert will likely have more company in the shelter.

With the state's highest unemployment rate, jobs in Rock County are scarce.

"If there's no work, what are you going to do? That's the main thing. If there are no jobs, what are you going to do?" said Ebert.

He works odd jobs such as raking leaves and shoveling snow. He said he hasn't held a steady job in years.

"There's basically nothing around here for jobs. I'm 51, going to be 52 in December, and I get more slammed doors than I do open doors," said Ebert.

Ebert said he won't give up the struggle to get back on his feet. He said the shelter is giving him reason to hope.

"It's about the man upstairs and people believing, and that's the way I look at it," said Ebert.

All the shelters in the area have the same goal of providing a safe place for the night and to get people off the street and into permanent housing.

G.I.F.T.S. Men's Shelter has had success since it opened on Christmas Eve of 2007.

It has helped 34 men find jobs. Of those, 24 were able to save enough money to get their own apartment.

Another growing trend is homeless students at Janesville schools, WISC-TV reported.

Different organizations define homelessness differently.

If someone is hoping from couch to couch, staying with friends and relatives, some organizations do not recognize them as homeless. However, the Janesville School District does, and a record number of students are in that situation.

"Really they just have to help the kids deal with this kind of stress that they're going through. Like the officials are saying, if they're worried about where they're going to sleep at night, they're not really worried about their multiplication tables so much," said Janesville Gazette reporter Stacy Vogel.

That topic and more stories from Rock County's homeless will be featured in Sunday's Janesville Gazette.

The shelters in Rock County and other groups working to help the area homeless are all dependent on donations. Below is a list of Janesville organizations.

Rock County Homeless and Community Resources:

Community Action Inc.

ECHO Janesville

G.I.F.T.S. Men's Shelter

House of Mercy

Salvation Army Janesville

United Way of North Rock County First Call

YWCA Rock County