AUBURN, Calif. May 1, 2026— The 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count identified 394 individuals experiencing homelessness in Nevada County reflecting a 15.4 % decline from the 2025 PIT Count. Conducted on January 28, 2026, for the night of Jan. 27, the count was coordinated by the Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras (HRCS) with support from volunteers, nonprofit partners, and local jurisdictions.

The PIT Count provides a one-night snapshot of homelessness and is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inform funding, planning, and local strategies for serving our community members who are unhoused. “The PIT Count helps us understand not just how many people are experiencing homelessness, but what services and supports are needed most” said Blanca Castro, Executive Director of HRCS.

“Nevada County continues to face rising housing costs, limited shelter capacity, and growing behavioral health needs,” said Ms. Castro, “This year’s results show progress, but also reinforce the need for sustained, coordinated, data-driven solutions.”

2026 Nevada County Highlights (CA-531)

  • 394 total individuals (down 15.4%)
  • 217 unsheltered, 177 sheltered
  • 12 unaccompanied youth (down from 20 in 2025); All unaccompanied youth were part of a household with an 18+ person.
  • 8 veterans (down from 13 in 2025)
  • 22 families with children (down from 23 in 2025)

Alissa Navo, Board Chair of the Nevada Continuum of Care (CoC) said that “the areas with the highest number of individuals experiencing homelessness, are also where we’ve expanded access to help, such as the Commons Resource Center and the Truckee Navigation Center. These sites are making it easier for people to connect with shelter, housing, and behavioral health support closer to where they are, strengthening both our local system of care and the broader community systems that respond to homelessness. Since 2017, our community has added 150 beds, expanding safe, supportive options for people as they work to get back on their feet.”

Outreach teams identified 131 people living outdoors or in tents and another 61 staying in vehicles, underscoring the ongoing need for safe, stable shelter options in Nevada county.

The count also highlights the significant health and behavioral challenges faced by many experiencing homelessness.

2026 Nevada County Health and Behavioral Health Challenges

  • 168 individuals reported experiencing mental health conditions (57% of those responding)
  • 135 (46%) with substance use disorders
  • 116 (39%) with physical disabilities.

A large percentage of individuals surveyed reported long-standing ties to the community. 153 individuals (45% of those responding) said they had lived locally for five or more years, reinforcing that homelessness in the area affects residents rather than transient populations.

About HRCS

The Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras (HRCS) leads regional efforts through the Continuum of Care for Placer (CA-515) and Nevada (CA-531), coordinating funding, planning, and strategies to prevent and end homelessness.