Homelessness in Buncombe County reached a record high of 824 people in 2026, a 9.1 percent increase from 2025, according to the latest Point-in-Time count reported by the Asheville Daily Planet. The report signals a significant increase in the number of individuals without stable housing in the area. The Point-in-Time count also revealed a growing crisis, with more individuals struggling to find shelter. Unsheltered Population Increase Of those 824 individuals experiencing homelessness, 334 are