After the sun set on the last Monday in January, Lakewood housing manager Chris Conner and Westwoods Community Church Pastor Rick Schmitz met at the dilapidated White Swan Motel, a family homeless shelter off West Colfax Avenue.
They were on a mission: Count the people sleeping outside in Lakewood.
It was part of a sweeping federal effort known as the Point in Time Count. Each year, nationwide, counties attempt to quantify how many people are living outside and in shelters…