The number of people experiencing homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County has risen again in 2026, driven by ongoing housing pressures and the lingering impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, 828newsNOW reports. The latest Point-in-Time count, conducted in February, identified 824 people experiencing homelessness, a nine percent increase from the 755 people counted in 2025, according to 828newsNOW. The Point-in-Time count is an annual census of the homeless population. The Asheville-Buncombe Co