2026 PIT Count Reveals Significant Drop in Homelessness Across Two California Counties
AUBURN, Calif. — The latest Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on January 28, 2026 confirms a notable decline in homelessness in both Placer and Nevada Counties, with the total number of unhoused individuals falling sharply. Coordinated by the Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras (HRCS), this federally mandated annual snapshot revealed a 9.7% reduction in Placer County and a stunning 15.4% drop in Nevada County.
This count is a critical measure used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allocate federal funds and tailor local strategies. As homelessness nationwide remains a pressing issue, these improvements highlight impactful progress yet underline ongoing challenges such as limited shelter capacity, rising housing costs, and behavioral health crises, HRCS Executive Director Blanca Castro emphasized.
Declines Across Key Populations Signal Progress but Highlight Continued Needs
In Placer County, the homeless population dropped to 642 individuals from the previous count—down nearly a tenth. The number of unsheltered individuals living outdoors or in vehicles remains high at 337, while 305 people were sheltered. Notably, the count showed a near 50% plunge in unaccompanied youth, falling to 27 from 54 last year. Veterans experiencing homelessness also dipped slightly from 41 to 38. However, families with children increased marginally from 31 to 33.
Placer Continuum of Care Board Chair Suzanne Acrell pointed to ongoing local efforts: “With new permanent supportive housing opening soon, targeted outreach and strengthened behavioral health programs, we aim to drive these numbers down further even as our population grows.”
Meanwhile, Nevada County saw even sharper improvements, with 394 total individuals counted—down from 466 in 2025. Unsheltered people living outdoors or in tents totaled 131, with 61 staying in vehicles. The count recorded fewer unaccompanied youth, dropping from 20 to 12, and veterans decreased from 13 to 8. Families with children stayed nearly steady at 22, down from 23.
Alissa Navo, Chair of the Nevada County Continuum of Care, credited expanded access points like the Commons Resource Center and Truckee Navigation Center for connecting more people to shelter and health services. “Since 2017, adding 150 beds has expanded safe options as people work to get back on their feet,” she said.
Health and Behavioral Needs Remain Critical Concerns
The PIT Count also underscored the deep health and behavioral challenges facing unhoused residents. In Placer County, over half of respondents reported mental health conditions, nearly a third struggled with substance use disorders, and 44% had physical disabilities. Nevada County showed similar trends, with 57% reporting mental health issues, 46% battling substance use, and 39% coping with physical disabilities.
Significantly, many counted have long-standing ties to the area — 54% in Placer and 45% in Nevada County had lived locally for five years or more, signifying homelessness is affecting longtime residents rather than transient populations.
What’s Next: Continued Investment and Outreach to Sustain Progress
As Placer and Nevada Counties report meaningful reductions in homelessness in 2026, officials stress the urgency of sustained, data-driven investments in housing, outreach, and behavioral health support. The PIT Count’s one-night snapshot sets the foundation for local and federal funding decisions that will shape the community’s response.
This development illustrates how targeted resources and collaborative efforts can yield measurable results even amidst persistent systemic challenges — a critical narrative for policymakers and advocates nationwide as they confront growing homelessness. For North Carolina and other states grappling with similar crises, the Placer and Nevada models highlight the importance of expanding shelter capacity and integrated health services.
Blanca Castro, HRCS Executive Director: ”The PIT Count helps us understand not just how many people are experiencing homelessness, but what services and supports are needed most.”
With homelessness levels in these two California counties falling dramatically without sacrificing service quality, communities across the United States can draw hope — and urgency — from this evolving story as efforts intensify to tackle one of America’s most complex social challenges.
