San Benito Homeless Count Shows 57% Decline; Officials Warn One-Night Data Is Imperfect

HOLLISTER, SAN BENITO COUNTY — November 7, 2026. San Benito County’s 2026 Point-in-Time count found 57% fewer people experiencing homelessness than in the 2024 count, according to results presented to the Board of Supervisors on November 3. Advocates caution that the count is only a snapshot, not a complete accounting of all housing instability.

How the study worked

Survey teams counted people on January 26, 2026 and conducted further surveys during February. Katrina McKenzie of the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers presented the results after the board meeting had been rescheduled. Officials described counting people experiencing homelessness as an increasingly difficult undertaking.

Why the decline needs context

Some advocates cite improvements in shelter and housing services, while others question whether removal of river encampments left people harder to find. County leaders said the methodology’s margin of error was not easy to establish. These possible explanations should be presented as competing assessments, not verified causes of the entire 57% change.

Services and next steps

County representatives reported approximately 48–52 occupied beds at the local shelter and discussed how to connect veterans to benefits and behavioral-health support. The next Point-in-Time count is scheduled for 2028. The new figures may guide funding and services, but do not prove that the housing crisis has been solved.

Source: BenitoLink, reported October–November 2026.

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