A new point-in-time census shows homelessness is on the rise again in Napa County, with a one-day snapshot revealing a 14 percent increase that reverses two years of steady progress.
The Press Democrat reports officials counted 428 unhoused individuals in late January, pointing to inflation and high housing costs as major drivers pushing residents to the margins. A particularly troubling finding shows that 44 percent of those surveyed were experiencing homelessness for the very first time.
Meanwhile, neighboring Sonoma County managed to keep its homeless population flat at just under two thousand people.
However, local officials there warn that recent deep funding cuts and a tough economy mean difficult times are ahead.