The 2026 Homeless Point in Time Count conducted in January shows unsheltered homelessness on Maui jumped 40% while total homeless numbers remained essentially unchanged, according to multiple reports released this week. The data reveals a shift from sheltered to unsheltered populations amid ongoing housing challenges.
- Total homeless count in Maui County decreased slightly from 654 in 2024 to 651 in 2026, less than 1% change
- Unsheltered homelessness increased 40%, rising from 285 to 398 people sleeping outside or in vehicles
- Sheltered homelessness dropped 31%, from 369 to 253 people
- Veteran homelessness on Maui increased 53%, from 15 to 23 people
- Family homelessness rose 3%, from 59 to 61 families
- The decline in sheltered numbers is attributed to people being moved into housing
- Post-wildfire housing market has made housing placements more competitive (Maui Now)
- Count included expanded outreach into remote areas including lava fields and rugged coastlines (Maui Now)
- Annual census was conducted on January 25, 2026 by Bridging the Gap coalition
Sources
- Hawaii Free Press: Point-in-Time: More Sister-Isle Homeless on Streets as Fewer Accept Shelter
- Maui Now: Maui unsheltered homeless jumps 40% as overall numbers remain flat, new count shows
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