While Merced and Stanislaus counties continue to grapple with homelessness, the Westside communities of Newman and Gustine reported some of the lowest numbers in the region during the 2025 Point-in-Time Count.
Conducted in January and released in June, the federally mandated survey found four individuals experiencing homelessness in Newman and none in Gustine. The count offers a snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered individuals across both counties and helps guide funding and service decisions.
The survey, coordinated by the Merced County Continuum of Care and the Stanislaus Community System of Care, included both sheltered and unsheltered individuals across cities and unincorporated areas.
Though the reports do not analyze contributing factors for individual cities, the low numbers in Newman and Gustine reflect a consistent trend seen in previous years. Smaller population centers in the region typically report fewer individuals experiencing homelessness compared to urban hubs like Merced, Modesto, and Turlock.
Across Merced County, the total homeless population dropped to 717—a 14.3% decrease from 2024. Most were concentrated in the City of Merced, which accounted for 520 individuals.
Stanislaus County, by contrast, saw a slight increase to 2,086, with Turlock’s numbers rising nearly 20% to 241.
Turlock’s increase comes amid controversy over the city’s decision to deny support to We Care, its only emergency shelter for men, potentially jeopardizing $267,000 in funding. Modesto remains the county’s epicenter of homelessness, with 1,603 individuals counted.
The Point-in-Time Count also revealed that most individuals experiencing homelessness are longtime residents. In Stanislaus County, over 70% said their homelessness began locally, and nearly the same percentage reported being unhoused for more than three years.
Some of the highlights revealed in the Merced County point-in-time count include:
· City of Merced: 520 individuals (320 sheltered, 200 unsheltered) — 72.5% of county total
- Los Banos: 114 individuals (down from 149) — 28 sheltered, 86 unsheltered
- Atwater: 36 individuals (down from 53) — approx. 32% decrease
- Livingston: 9 individuals (up from 1 in 2024)
- Women and girls: 37.2% of sheltered and 32.1% of unsheltered individuals
- Age 55+: 29.9% of sheltered adults and 19.1% of unsheltered adults
- First-time homelessness: 17.2% of unsheltered individuals became homeless in the past year
In Stanislaus County some of the data included:
· Total individuals experiencing homelessness: 2,086 (up from 2,052 in 2024)
- Unsheltered individuals: 950 (slight decrease from 980 in 2024)
- Sheltered individuals: 1,136 — third consecutive year of increase
- Year-round shelter beds available: 2,587 — a 21.7% increase from 2023
- People housed through HHAP programs (Jan 2023–Dec 2024): 865 individuals
- People connected to services: 5,710 individuals
- Caltrans encampment removals (July 2021–July 2025): 69 encampments cleared in Stanislaus County
- HHAP funding awarded (Rounds 1–5): $22.6 million total; $18.7 million went directly to Stanislaus County.
More than 100 volunteers participated in the Merced County count, with over 250 assisting in Stanislaus. The data will guide future funding and policy decisions, including how resources are allocated to smaller cities like Newman and Gustine.
Full reports are available through the Merced County Continuum of Care and Stanislaus Community System of Care.
