The Mission at Kern County
Last updated August 2026
The Mission at Kern County serves three hot meals a day and opens its overnight shelter every day of the year. Showers and laundry too, all at no cost, at 816 East 21st Street in Bakersfield.
Showing up is the process. Meals ask nothing of you: arrive, eat, leave, three times a day, every day of the year. Staying overnight means a simple intake (your name, a few questions, a bed), plus the showers and laundry that make the next morning workable.
You don't have to sleep at the Mission to eat there. The meal line serves anyone experiencing hunger, which makes it a steady anchor when everything else is uncertain: three fixed points in the day that don't take holidays off.
Beyond tonight, the Mission runs longer programs: recovery programs, and support for women with children. Those start with a real conversation about what joining looks like, so call (661) 325-0863 and ask. The phone call costs nothing, and those programs are the route from surviving to rebuilding.
Keep a second option in your pocket, because beds anywhere can fill. M Street Navigation Center takes adults around the clock, pets included. And if violence at home is the reason you need a bed, start with the Open Door Network's 24-hour line at (661) 327-1091. Their shelter system is built for exactly that.
Phone (661) 325-0863
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Anyone experiencing homelessness or hunger, at no cost
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Does it cost anything to stay or eat at the Mission?
No. Shelter and meals come at no cost to anyone experiencing homelessness or hunger.
Can women with children stay?
The Mission runs support for women with children. Call (661) 325-0863 to ask about space.
Is there help beyond a bed and meals?
Yes. Recovery programs operate alongside the shelter. They're a longer commitment than a night's stay, with support built around them; call and ask what enrollment involves.
Do I need ID or paperwork to stay the night?
Don't let missing papers keep you outside. Shelters work with people who arrive with nothing. Call (661) 325-0863 and ask what intake involves if you're unsure.
Does the Mission serve meals on holidays?
Every day of the year means exactly that: the meal schedule doesn't take holidays off. Same address: 816 East 21st Street.
How long can I stay?
Ask at intake. The overnight shelter operates every day of the year, and staff can explain the longer options (recovery programs and support for women with children) if a night at a time isn't enough.
What if the Mission is full tonight?
Ask staff where to try, then call M Street Navigation Center through CAPK at (661) 336-5236 (it runs 24/7), or dial 211 for every shelter option in the county at once.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
See all Bakersfield / Kern County, CA programs →Free · Private · No account needed