Merced County and Maui see surge in unsheltered homeless

The 2026 Point‑in‑Time Count shows Merced County, California, recorded 748 homeless individuals, a 4.3% rise from the previous year. Sheltered residents increased from 371 to 403, while the unsheltered population held steady at about 345‑346. Shelter capacity grew by 8.6%, adding 32 beds, and children in shelters rose 39% to 57.

In Hawaii, the same 2026 count reported that unsheltered homelessness on Maui jumped 40% even as the overall homeless count remained essentially unchanged. Both reports highlight mounting demand for shelter resources despite modest growth in capacity.