BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A new survey says the number of homeless people in oil-rich North Dakota increased slightly in the past year but it's down dramatically from the record set in 2013.
Volunteers counted 1,305 homeless people during a "point in time" survey on January 28th. That's up from 1,258 homeless people counted on a single day in January 2014.
In 2013, volunteers counted a record 2,069 homeless people.
Michael Carbone is the executive director of the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People. He attributes the drop in the past two years to more housing options and improving economies in other states.
Half of the unsheltered homeless people counted this year had jobs and most were found in western North Dakota's oil-producing region.