Homelessness in the greater Bakersfield area increased by 3.2% in the last year, according to the 2026 Point in Time count, representing what local officials called a flattening of the curve of homelessness. 

A total of 2,690 people were counted as part of the 2026 PIT count conducted Jan. 28, a slight increase from last year's count but roughly the same as where the region's been for the past few years, according to numbers released Friday.