Housing Resources

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The Department of Human Services Housing Support Unit collaborates with various community partners throughout Kern County to help administer California Department of Social Services (CDSS) homeless and at-risk of homelessness programs.

The following CDSS homeless and at-risk of homelessness programs are available through the Department of Human Services.

Contact the Housing Support Unit regarding eligibility for any CDSS homeless or at-risk of homelessness program below.

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance aims to help CalWORKs families meet the reasonable costs of securing housing and serves eligible CalWORKs recipients, or apparently eligible CalWORKs applicants, who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

Type of Assistance	Summary of Benefits
Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA)	A homeless assistance benefit for eligible or apparently eligible CalWORKs applicants or recipients that provides payment to homeless families to obtain temporary shelter assistance for a maximum of 16-days in a 12-month period, while the family is seeking permanent housing.
Permanent Homeless Assistance (PHA)	A permanent homeless assistance benefit for active CalWORKs recipients that assists homeless families with the costs of securing a new permanent residence that does not rent for more than 80 percent of the assisted unit's Total Monthly Household Income (TMHI).
Permanent Homeless Arrearages Payment	A permanent homeless assistance benefit for active CalWORKs recipients that provides payment of up to two months of back owed rent (arrearages) that does not exceed 80 percent of the assisted unit's Total Monthly Household Income (TMHI) to avoid eviction of a family’s current residence.

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance is granted for a continuous period of homelessness caused by specific circumstances and is available once every 12-months starting from the day the first payment is issued unless the recipient has a verified exception.

Eligible families can apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance by simply contacting your Human Service Technician or visiting any DHS office.

CalWORKs Housing Support Program

CalWORKs Housing Support Program provides housing stability and assists in securing and maintaining permanent housing for CalWORKs families experiencing, or at- risk of, homelessness without preconditions.

CalWORKs Housing Support Program offers financial assistance and housing-related wraparound supportive services, including but not limited to: rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, interim shelter assistance, legal services, and credit repair.

Bringing Families Home Program

Bringing Families Home Program serves families involved with the child welfare system who are experiencing, or at risk of, experiencing homelessness to increase family reunification and to prevent foster care placement.

Bringing Families Home offers financial assistance and housing-related wraparound supportive services, including but not limited to: rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, interim shelter assistance, legal services, and credit repair.

Housing and Disability Advocacy Program

The Housing and Disability Advocacy Program assists people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits by providing advocacy for disability benefits as well as housing supports.

The four core requirements of the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program include outreach, case management, disability benefits advocacy, and housing assistance. Housing-related financial assistance and wraparound supportive services provided include but are not limited to interim shelter assistance, rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, legal services, and credit repair.

Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative Coordinated Entry System

As a member of the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC), it is the goal of DHS to assist all Kern County communities in ending homelessness by providing a clear and systematic pattern for helping individuals to quickly access the most appropriate services available through standardized access, a standardized assessment process, and a coordinated referral (match) process.

All individuals and families who receive homeless or at-risk of homeless assistance through DHS will be connected with the Kern County Coordinated Entry System in an effort to identify any additional services or resources that may be available throughout the community.

Additional Homelessness Resources

Kern County, CA - Department of Human Services