Help from the The Open Door Network - Bakersfield Homeless Center
The Bakersfield Homeless Center, now operating as part of The Open Door Network, is the primary family homeless shelter for Bakersfield and Kern County. Unlike many shelters that focus mostly on un-housed single adults, this site is designed around women and families with children, with emergency beds, daily meals and on-site services. Learn more below on the short term housing programs, including shelters, from The Open Door Network as well as the contact information.
Shelter for the unhoused in Bakersfield from the Open Door Network
The organization’s mission is to support homeless families in crisis, stabilize them and move them into permanent housing, while connecting them to trauma-informed services. Unlike many adult-focused shelters, this campus and emergency housing is built around parents, children and survivors who need safety, consistency and long-term help, not just a bed for the night.
- The Center provides emergency beds and essential daily services that help people recover from the stress of homelessness. Families receive access to secure dormitories, showers, laundry facilities, mail services, storage lockers and a staffed day room that provides relief from heat or cold. Or if needed, find other places to stay if homeless.
- Residents are served multiple hot meals each day and are given consistent access to snacks and hydration, which is a critical safety measure in a region that regularly experiences extreme summer temperatures. The shelter also supports people who are not staying overnight by offering meals and referrals when capacity allows, which helps reach people living in vehicles or unstable doubled-up housing.
- A unique feature of the Bakersfield Homeless Center is the strength of its family focus. The Open Door Network operates the only emergency shelter for the unhoused in Kern County specifically for families with children Social service planning documents for the county assign this agency the primary responsibility for sheltering and case managing homeless families and moving them into permanent housing, and note that the family dorms often run at or above 100 percent of standard capacity. There is also a dedicated 40-bed wing for single women who are especially at risk on the streets in Bakersfield’s extreme summer heat.
Domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking services are closely linked to the Bakersfield Homeless Center through The Open Door Network. The merged organization operates separate confidential shelters and a 24-hour hotline at 661-327-1091 for survivors, while the family shelter serves many parents and children who have fled abuse and then become homeless.
- This tight connection between a family homeless shelter and specialized violence-prevention programs is not common in many communities, and it allows staff to coordinate safety planning, legal advocacy and housing placement without sending survivors to multiple agencies.
Housing placement and long-term stability planning are ongoing from the moment a family enters the shelter. Case managers help parents obtain birth certificates, identification cards, Social Security documentation and verifications needed for housing applications. Families work with staff to create budgets, repair credit, handle back-rent issues or negotiate with landlords.
- The Center collaborates closely with the Housing Authority of the County of Kern at https://kernha.org and with county homeless programs to place families into permanent housing, transitional units or subsidized apartments when available. This includes connecting eligible households to programs that cover deposits, short-term rental gaps, utility reconnection fees or stabilization support.
Once basic needs around housing and nutrition are met for the homeless individuals in Kern County, the non-profit will partner with them in an effort to help people meet a level of housing stability. This will also allow them to participate in service programs such as repairing credit or finding employment. There will also be help with receiving assistance for finding a permanent home or apply for help in Bakersfield CA with a security deposit, and case managers can lead them on the path to independent living.
Daycare and after school care from the Bakersfield Homeless Center
Child services are among the most unique parts of the Bakersfield Homeless Center. The on-site licensed childcare program, often referred to as Discovery Depot, offers structured early learning for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. Few homeless shelters in the state operate licensed child development centers, and this feature allows parents to work, interview for jobs or attend appointments without worrying about childcare availability. Read more about free child care assistance programs in CA.
- The classrooms emphasize early literacy, developmental milestones and social skills, and staff members coordinate closely with case managers so that parents and children receive aligned support. When families leave the shelter, children transition more smoothly into public school or long-term childcare programs because they have already been participating in a consistent routine.
School-aged children also receive dedicated support through an after-school and enrichment program commonly known as Champ Camp. This service gives children tutoring, quiet space for homework, structured play, enrichment activities and supervised time that helps reduce stress during periods of homelessness. Teachers and volunteers help children maintain academic progress and emotional stability while their families are rebuilding. The program is one of the reasons Bakersfield’s shelter stands out as a family-focused service center rather than a temporary warehouse for basic needs.
Employment and workforce development is another area where the Bakersfield Homeless Center stands out. The Job Development Program connects homeless and at-risk adults with part-time and entry-level work in highway maintenance, litter removal, landscaping, warehouse support and animal care, with walk-in orientations held weekly.
Through a long-running partnership with the City of Bakersfield’s Freeway Litter Program and Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, shelter crews clean litter and debris from local freeways, filling more than 1,000 bags of trash each month and improving neighborhood safety while workers earn wages and rebuild employment histories. These transitional jobs act as a bridge to permanent work in Kern County’s transportation, logistics and public works sectors.
The Center’s workforce services go beyond outdoor crews. Residents can attend life-skills and job-skills classes, including basic computer use, résumé preparation, interview practice and financial management. There are also details on freelancing jobs to make extra money for people in the shelter.
- Staff help clients obtain identification, open bank accounts and address legal or credit issues that block hiring. The agency has been cited in homelessness planning documents around the country as a model for “all-stages” employment support, from providing a phone and mailing address to arranging volunteer work and paid transitional jobs.
Location of Homeless Center and Open Door Network in Kern County
Whether facing eviction or currently homeless, the Open Door Network and the Bakersfield Homeless Center may be able to assist. They are located at 1921 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Phone: (661) 322-9199
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