BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Homelessness in Kern County rose slightly in 2026.
The numbers from January’s Point in Time census of homeless individuals show 2,690 people experiencing homelessness, up 3.2% from 2025.
The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative reports Bakersfield had the county’s highest homeless population with more than 1,000 people counted.
Officials point to high housing costs, economic instability, rising rents, and job losses as major factors driving more people into homelessness for the first time.
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