The number of people experiencing homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County has risen again this year, according to 828newsNOW, driven by ongoing housing pressures and the lingering impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. The latest Point-in-Time count, conducted in February, identified 824 people experiencing homelessness, 828newsNOW reported. That figure represents a nine percent increase from the 755 people counted in 2025. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this annu