Assistance Programs in Bakersfield / Kern County, CA

Shelter and support for people facing homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking in Kern County. Their crisis hotline answers 24 hours a day.

Emergency help with rent or mortgage payments, plus a food pantry and clothing for families in crisis. You do not need to be Catholic to get help.

Runs Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers, and affordable housing communities across Kern County. Some waiting lists open and close during the year, so check which programs are accepting applications.

A 24-hour shelter in Bakersfield with beds, meals, laundry, medical check-ups, and secure storage. Pets welcome. Staff help connect guests to longer-term housing.

Overnight shelter, three hot meals a day, showers, and laundry at 816 East 21st Street in Bakersfield, every day of the year. Also offers recovery programs and support for women with children.

CAPK (Community Action Partnership of Kern) helps income-qualified households pay electric, gas, and propane bills, and can weatherize your home to lower future bills. Apply by email, mail, or in person at 300 19th Street in Bakersfield.

Free food through more than 200 emergency food distribution sites across Kern County, plus a monthly Senior Food Box program. Call 211 to find the food distribution closest to you.

Free healthy food, nutrition help, and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new moms, and kids under 5. Dads, grandparents, and foster parents caring for young children can also apply.

Monthly money on an EBT card to buy groceries. If you have very little income or cash on hand, you may qualify for expedited benefits within 3 days.

A Bakersfield food bank working with over 125 community agencies to get groceries to Kern County families in need. Call or stop by the warehouse on 30th Street to get connected to food help.

Free food distribution Monday through Thursday afternoons, a Tuesday senior lunch, and social services help during weekday business hours at 4417 Wilson Road.

Community health centers across Kern County offering medical, dental, and behavioral health care whether or not you have insurance. Staff can also help you sign up for Medi-Cal or Covered California.

Kern County's public teaching hospital in Bakersfield, home to the region's only Level II trauma center. Covered California counselors are on site weekdays to help patients get insured.

Free or low-cost health insurance covering medical, dental, and vision care. You may qualify even if you work, own a home or car, or are not a U.S. citizen.

A network of health centers in Kern County providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care with a sliding fee scale if you are uninsured or money is tight. Call or text to make an appointment.

Free job search help, resume workshops, training programs, and computer access at 1600 E. Belle Terrace in Bakersfield. A youth center serves job seekers ages 18 to 24.

Free tax preparation and e-filing for low- and moderate-income families, year-round. They can help you claim tax credits like the EITC that put real money back in your pocket.

Monthly cash aid and job help for families with children and pregnant women. Can also help pay for childcare, diapers, transportation, and even housing assistance.

Cash help with rent, utilities, transportation, and personal needs for adults with no other means of support. A Disability Advocate can also help you apply for SSI if you have a long-term disability.

Weekly payments of $40 to $450 if you lost work through no fault of your own. Apply online through myEDD; first payment usually takes about three weeks.

A nonprofit, HUD-approved agency offering free credit counseling, debt management plans, and housing counseling (including foreclosure prevention) by phone. Your first session is free with no products to sell.

One phone call connects seniors and their families to meals on wheels, in-home care, transportation, utility rebate help, and legal services. Staff can also help you fill out forms and understand letters from other agencies.

Housing help for veterans and their families: rental assistance to prevent homelessness (SSVF), short-term and transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Case managers walk with you through the whole process.

Free help for veterans and their families filing VA claims: disability compensation, pensions, health care, education, and survivor benefits. Accredited officers handle the paperwork with you at no charge.

Free legal help for low-income Kern County residents: eviction defense, denied or cut-off benefits (CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI), restraining orders for domestic violence survivors, health coverage problems, and a Seniors Law Center for people 60 and older.

Kern County's local 211 line, run by CAPK. Free, confidential referrals to rent help, shelters, food, utility assistance, and more, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Free, confidential 24-hour support for mental health or substance use crises, or just to talk to a trained counselor without judgment. They can also send a Mobile Crisis Response team and connect you to ongoing care.