<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1MIm5x_1CA8ZG4q00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MIm5x_1CA8ZG4q00" width="1200" height="600" >HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Data compiled by local organizations and released by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that homelessness is on the rise in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.According to the 2025 Point In Time data, homelessness was up in Ohio compared to 2024 by 3.7, up in West Virginia by 8.2 percent, and up in Kentucky by 10.7 percent. Meanwhile, nationwide, homelessness was down by 3.3 percent compared to 2024.The PIT data is compiled by volunteers by counting the homeless population in one day in various areas, typically in late January. Therefore, it is just a snapshot of the issue.Some 2026 PIT data is available in West Virginia localities, showing a further increase in homelessness. Data released by the Huntington Continuum of Care shows volunteers counted 283 homeless people, the highest count in the CoC’s history, and up from 255 in 2025.Ashley Hawkins with the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness told WSAZ the main reason for the increases in homelessness in West Virginia is the lack of affordable housing.“The rising housing cost is one of the largest factors that’s playing into homelessness in our state,” she told WSAZ. “A lot of people want to point to a lot of different reasons why homelessness might be on the rise, but at a base level, it’s an economic issue, and a lot of folks are finding themselves simply priced out of housing.”The best solution, according to Hawkins, is simply building more affordable housing. “If we’re looking at the truest solution here and the reason that we see these increases, housing ends homelessness. And without housing, you’re going to see rates of homelessness,” she said. “For us to remedy this issue, the state would need to construct close to 25,000 additional low-income housing units. One of the things that would significantly help drop that number in West Virginia is simply the development and institution of more low-income available housing.”</div></body>

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Data compiled by local organizations and released by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that homelessness is on the rise in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. According to the 2025 Point In Time data, homelessness was up in Ohio compared to 2024 by...

Data shows homelessness on the rise in Tri-State

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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Data compiled by local organizations and released by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that homeless

Data shows homelessness on the rise in Tri-State

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