Kern County homelessness rises 3.2% to 2,690 in 2026 Point-in-Time Count
Homelessness in Kern County ticked up in 2026, with a new count finding 2,690 people experiencing homelessness across the county — a 3.2 percent increase from 2025 — as housing affordability, economic instability, rising rent costs, and job loss were cited among the main reasons more people are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative’s 2026 Point-in-Time count found Bakersfield had the highest number of people experiencing homelessness, with more than 1,000 people counted.
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https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/kern-county-homelessness-rises-32-to-2690-in-2026-point-in-time-count
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Path to Full Story on 29 Eyewitness NewsPosted: Sunday May-10-2026 2:44 PM
Bakersfield News
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