HELPING HOMELESS FAMILIES FIND TEMPORARY HOUSING THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS. THEY OFFER CRISIS HOUSING MOTEL VOUCHERS AND CONNECT FAMILIES WITH FAMILY SOLUTION CENTERS FOR PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS. MORE INFO HERE

*** 211 CAN ALSO HELP ROUTE FAMILES TO COOLING CENTERS AND HYDRATION STATIONS ACROSS ALL COUNTIES.

WHAT THEY DO: Operates a daily drop-in day center providing vital clothing and hygiene assistance to unhoused individuals and low-income families in Kern County. Services include free daily clothing distribution, personal hygiene kits (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, socks, underwear, and grooming supplies), on-site clean shower facilities, free daily hot meals (breakfast and lunch), snack packs, mail-holding services, and basic needs referrals.

PHONE: (661) 323-7340

LINK: https://svdpbakersfield.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Serves students and families in the Oildale / North Bakersfield area through school-community resource partnerships. The center maintains a clothes closet and emergency hygiene pantry providing free school uniforms, jackets, shoes, backpacks, personal hygiene products, and school supplies. They also connect families with emergency food assistance, Medi-Cal enrollment, and local housing/utility resources.

PHONE: (661) 392-2110

LINK: https://www.standardschools.net/

WHAT THEY DO: Serves as a major volunteer-driven food rescue and hunger-relief organization in Kern County. They distribute emergency food boxes containing non-perishable goods, fresh produce, and bakery items to low-income families, seniors, and individuals experiencing food insecurity. They also operate specialized senior food box programs and mobile food distributions.

PHONE: (661) 324-2767

LINK: http://www.goldenempiregleaners.com/

WHAT THEY DO: The official countywide food bank for Kern County, collecting and distributing millions of pounds of food annually. They host direct emergency food distributions, USDA commodity giveaways, CSFP senior food box drops, and supply food directly to dozens of partner pantries, shelters, and rural sites across the region.

LINK: https://www.capk.org/programs/food-bank/

WHAT THEY DO: Operates an emergency community food pantry offering supplemental grocery assistance to individuals and families facing temporary hardship. Eligible households receive boxed non-perishable food, canned goods, produce, and bakery staples to help stretch their household budget.

PHONE: (661) 837-4243

LINK: https://bakersfield.salvationarmy.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Provides comprehensive social safety-net assistance, including a weekly emergency food pantry supplying fresh produce, boxed groceries, and shelf-stable foods to families in need. They also offer emergency diaper assistance, clothing vouchers, and utility relief support.

PHONE: (661) 281-2130

LINK: https://ccdof.org/

WHAT THEY DO: A key rural community food assistance program providing emergency food boxes, produce, and pantry staples to unhoused individuals, low-income families, and seniors residing throughout the Kern River Valley and Lake Isabella area.

PHONE: (760) 223-0750

WHAT THEY DO: A community center operated by CAPK in Shafter that serves as a vital rural food access point in North-Western Kern County. In addition to youth programs, they host regular emergency food commodity distributions, fresh produce giveaways, and family support resources for local agricultural workers and low-income households.

PHONE: (661) 746-8235

LINK: https://www.capk.org/programs/shafter-youth-center/

WHAT THEY DO: Provides comprehensive basic needs and emergency relief for unhoused individuals in Kern County. Services include free hot showers, restrooms, hygiene kits, daily hot meals (served 3x daily: Breakfast 6–7 AM, Lunch 11 AM–12 PM, Dinner 4:30–5:30 PM), clothing distribution, and emergency overnight shelter for men. They also offer case management, medical/dental clinic access, and residential recovery programs for men and women.

PHONE: (661) 325-0863

LINK: https://themissionkc.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Provides comprehensive emergency shelter, basic needs relief, and support services for unhoused individuals, single women, and families. For shelter residents and clients, they provide daily access to clean water, restrooms, hot showers, personal hygiene kits, laundry facilities, daily meals, lockers, and a safe day room. They also offer 24/7 victim services, case management, childcare, and direct housing navigation. 

PHONE: (661) 322-9294

LINK: https://opendoorhelps.org/ 

WHAT THEY DO: Operates low-barrier drop-in Navigation Centers and street outreach teams across Kern County designed to meet the immediate hygiene and basic needs of unhoused individuals. Their drop-in centers provide access to clean water, hot showers, laundry facilities, meals, hygiene items, and a safe place to rest. Outreach teams also distribute hydration supplies on the streets while connecting guests to healthcare, mental health support, and long-term supportive housing.  

PHONE: (661) 578-5354  

LINK: https://www.floodbako.com/

WHAT THEY DO: A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network providing primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured residents across Kern County. Services include adult and pediatric medicine, prenatal care, walk-in urgent care, pharmacies, substance use counseling, and specialized outreach for individuals experiencing homelessness.

PHONE: (833) 678-2781 (Appointments & 24/7 After-Hours Care)

LINK: https://clinicasierravista.org/

WHAT THEY DO: A community health center network operating dozens of health centers across Kern County. They provide low-cost and sliding-scale primary care, dental care, behavioral health, optometry, pediatrics, women's health, and low-cost pharmacy services. They accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, and uninsured patients regardless of ability to pay.

PHONE: (866) 707-6664 (Toll-Free Appointment Line)

LINK: https://omnifamilyhealth.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Serves as Kern County’s primary safety-net public health system and acute care hospital. They provide 24/7 emergency care, Level II trauma center services, inpatient hospital care, outpatient specialty clinics, maternal/child health, and outpatient primary care clinics for low-income, Medi-Cal, and uninsured community members.

PHONE: (661) 326-2000 (Hospital Operator & General Info) | (661) 326-2200 (Outpatient Appointments)

LINK: https://www.kernmedical.com/

WHAT THEY DO: A regional community center operated by the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) serving Ridgecrest and Eastern Kern County. For unhoused individuals and families at risk of homelessness, they provide Coordinated Entry System (CES) intake and housing navigation to connect clients with emergency shelter, supportive services, and permanent housing. They also offer homeless prevention and rental assistance, utility bill aid (HEAP), an emergency food and hygiene closet, monthly diaper supplies, and case management.

PHONE: (760) 463-0813

LINK: https://www.capk.org/oasis/

WHAT THEY DO: Operates dedicated residential and transitional housing programs specifically for women and mothers with minor children in Kern County:

Recovery Home for Women with Children: A safe, 34-bed living environment allowing mothers to participate in a 12-month addiction recovery and discipleship program without being separated from their children.

Transitional Home: A 13-suite transitional housing community for program graduates that features a vegetable garden, commercial kitchen, playground, and computer lab while providing 1:1 job placement, counseling, and life-skills coaching to support long-term independence.

PHONE: (661) 325-0863

LINK: https://themissionkc.org/women-with-children/

WHAT THEY DO: Provides transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and rapid re-housing assistance specifically for homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in Kern County. Services include case management, employment assistance, VA benefits navigation, and direct housing search support.

PHONE: (661) 323-5637

LINK: https://www.cavaf.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Operates a referral-based, low-barrier emergency navigation center and shelter for single unhoused adults in Bakersfield. Operated by Mercy House, the 299-bed facility provides emergency shelter, housing navigation, case management, on-site kennels for pets, secure belongings storage, and shuttle transportation to community appointments. (Note: Access is via referral through local partners/2-1-1; walk-ups are not permitted).

PHONE: Call 2-1-1 for Referral & Intake 

LINK: https://mercyhouse.net/regions/kern-county/

WHAT THEY DO: A faith-based transitional housing home in Bakersfield providing safe, structured shelter for unhoused women and mothers with minor children. Residents live in a supportive, family-like environment while receiving life-skills coaching, employment support, parenting classes, and case management to transition toward independent living.

PHONE: (661) 742-1018

LINK: https://esperanzabakersfield.org/

WHAT THEY DO: A 24-hour low-barrier emergency shelter and navigation center operated by the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK). The 147-bed facility provides shelter beds, daily meals, mental health counseling, medical appointments, case management, housing placement services, and safe camping/parking options for unhoused adults.

PHONE: (661) 322-3199 or Call 2-1-1

LINK: https://www.capkfoundation.org/m-street-navigation-center/

WHAT THEY DO: The primary public housing agency for Kern County, providing affordable housing opportunities and rental assistance. They administer the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, low-income public housing developments, senior housing, and specialized homeless preference vouchers to transition unhoused individuals into permanent housing.

PHONE: (661) 631-8500

LINK: https://www.kernha.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Partners with local faith communities and social service agencies across Kern County to provide emergency shelter placement, transitional housing navigation, household goods, and basic needs assistance for individuals and families in crisis or facing homelessness.

PHONE: (661) 412-2121

LINK: https://cityserve.us/

WHAT THEY DO: A community development organization operating across the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County. They manage affordable housing developments, housing rehabilitation, homeownership counseling, and emergency tenant protection programs. For households at risk of losing their home, they provide emergency rental assistance and utility bill relief to prevent homelessness.

PHONE: (559) 651-1000

LINK: https://www.selfhelpenterprises.org/

WHAT THEY DO: A dedicated program operated by the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) that helps low-income families and unhoused households transitioning into housing manage home energy costs across Kern County. 

HEAP Utility Assistance: Direct financial aid to help pay off past-due electricity, natural gas, or propane bills.

PHONE: (661) 336-5236 | Email: heapoffice@capk.org

LINK: https://energy.capk.org/

WHAT THEY DO: A non-profit veterinary clinic providing low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, rabies vaccinations, microchipping, and preventative pet care for low-income and unhoused pet owners in Kern County. They work closely with local rescues to ensure companion animals belonging to vulnerable community members stay healthy and vaccinated.

PHONE: (661) 831-6000

LINK: https://www.critterswithoutlitters.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Coordinates countywide child wellness initiatives, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Support program in partnership with local school districts. Every year, they organize back-to-school backpack drives, hygiene kit distribution, and clothing vouchers specifically targeted to students experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Kern County.

PHONE: (661) 636-4488

LINK: https://kern.org/kern-county-network-children/

WHAT THEY DO: Operates community safety-net pet programs, including a free pet food pantry for low-income and unhoused residents facing hardship. They also offer microchipping, low-cost vaccination clinics, spay/neuter assistance vouchers, and licensing relief to help owners keep their pets during housing transitions.

PHONE: (661) 868-7100

LINK: https://www.kerncountyanimalservices.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Provides free after-school programming, sports leagues, martial arts classes, tutoring, and leadership mentoring for low-income and at-risk youth in Kern County. PAL also hosts annual community outreach events, including back-to-school backpack giveaways, holiday gift distributions, and free summer meal programs for local youth.

ADDRESS: 301 E. 4th St., Bakersfield, CA 93307

PHONE: (661) 283-8880

LINK: http://www.bakersfieldpal.org/

WHAT THEY DO: Operates drop-in youth centers offering free and low-cost after-school activities, warm meals, homework help, computer lab access, and recreation for children and teens across Kern County. They regularly distribute free school supplies, backpacks, and clothing to enrolled children from low-income or displaced families.

PHONE: (661) 325-3730

LINK: https://www.bgckc.org/