Kern County Rental Assistance: Where Bakersfield-Area Renters Can Get Help

Kern County rental assistance right now

From 2021 to 2022, Kern County renters could apply for large amounts of back rent through a federally funded emergency rental assistance program. That money is gone. The U.S. Treasury program behind it ended, and the Housing Authority stopped taking applications once its funds ran out. Any site still sending people to that application is out of date.

What remains is smaller and more targeted. Help usually goes to households that are behind on rent and have a clear way to stay housed after a one-time payment, or to people who are about to become homeless. Funding comes and goes during the year, so the answer you get in March may differ from the answer in September.

For background on the statewide program and what replaced it, see our guide to the California rent relief program.

Calling 2-1-1 Kern

In Kern County, 2-1-1 is run by the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK). A specialist can tell you which agencies have rent or deposit money right now, which churches help in your part of the county, and how to get on a list if funds are closed. The call is free and confidential.

Tips for a useful call:

• Have your ZIP code, household size, monthly income, rent amount, and how much you owe ready.
• Say whether you have a written notice from your landlord and the date on it.
• Ask for every option, including utilities, food, and legal aid, not just rent.
• Write down each agency name, phone number, and what they need from you.

Lines can be busy, especially early in the month. If you cannot get through, try mid-morning on a weekday, or search the online 2-1-1 Kern directory on the CAPK site. CAPK’s main office is at 1300 18th Street, Suite 200, in Bakersfield, and its listed main phone is (661) 336-5236.

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance for families

If you have children and your income is low enough for CalWORKs (California’s cash aid program), the county can help with housing costs through CalWORKs Homeless Assistance. The California Department of Social Services describes two parts:

• Temporary Homeless Assistance pays for short stays in a motel or shelter while you look for housing.
• Permanent Homeless Assistance can pay a security deposit and last month’s rent to move into a new place, or up to two months of back rent to stop an eviction.

In Kern County, apply through the Department of Human Services. You may not need to be on CalWORKs already; tell the worker you are applying for both cash aid and Homeless Assistance. Bring your eviction notice or a letter from your landlord if you have one. Our California assistance programs guide covers CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and other state help you can apply for at the same time.

Homelessness prevention and coordinated entry

If you are about to lose your home, or are already staying in a car, shelter, or with friends, Kern County uses one shared intake process called coordinated entry. CAPK runs the Coordinated Entry System for the region, and the usual way in is through 2-1-1.

Coordinated entry does a short assessment of your situation and then refers you to the program that fits best. That can include shelter, rapid rehousing (short-term rent help to move into a new place), homelessness prevention money for people who can stay where they are, or permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities.

The Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative is the nonprofit that plans homeless services for the county, and preventing homelessness before it starts is one of its stated goals. It also points people to 2-1-1. If you are a veteran, say so on the first call, because separate VA-funded programs may be able to help faster.

Housing Authority of the County of Kern

The Housing Authority of the County of Kern runs public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program for most of the county. Its office is at 601 24th Street in Bakersfield, and its listed phone is (661) 631-8500.

Vouchers are the most valuable long-term help, because you pay about 30% of your adjusted income toward rent and the voucher covers the rest up to a limit. The catch is the wait. The voucher waiting list last took applications from January 28 to February 28, 2022, and local reporting at the time said more than 11,000 people applied for about 450 openings. As of our latest check, the list is closed and no reopening date has been announced.

What you can do now:

• Check the Housing Authority website or call to ask whether any public housing or site-based list is open.
• If you applied in 2022, keep your mailing address, phone, and email current with the Housing Authority so you do not lose your place.
• Ask 2-1-1 about privately owned income-restricted apartments, which have their own lists.

Be cautious of websites that charge to “put you on” a Section 8 list. Applying to a housing authority is always free.

Help with utility bills and food

When rent is tight, getting help with other bills can free up money for the landlord. The CAPK Energy Program helps eligible Kern County households pay electric, gas, and propane bills and offers free weatherization to lower future costs. CAPK says you must be 18 or older, live in Kern County, and bring proof of income for everyone in the household, a recent utility bill, and ID. Income limits are posted on the CAPK site. CAPK also lists water bill help.

The CAPK Food Bank supplies pantries around the county, and you can apply for CalFresh (California’s SNAP program) at the same time as CalWORKs. Every dollar you do not spend on food or power is a dollar toward rent.

California tenant rules every renter should know

Knowing your rights can buy time and prevent a wrongful eviction. These are the main state rules, based on the California Attorney General’s tenant guide and the California Courts self-help center.

AB 1482 does not cover every home. The Attorney General lists exemptions such as many single-family homes not owned by a corporation or real estate trust, units built in the last 15 years, and some owner-occupied duplexes. Your lease should include a notice saying whether the unit is exempt. If you are not sure, ask legal aid.

We found no local rent control ordinance for Bakersfield or unincorporated Kern County, so the state rules are what apply in most of the county. Legal aid can confirm the rules for your city.

Free legal help for Kern County tenants

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) provides free civil legal help to low-income Kern County residents, including tenants facing eviction. The City of Bakersfield has funded an eviction prevention program with GBLA that offers free legal help and mediation for low-income tenants; call GBLA to ask whether it is taking new cases and whether you qualify. GBLA’s widely listed phone number is (661) 325-5943.

If you need to file papers yourself, the Kern County Superior Court self-help center can help you fill out an Answer and ask for a fee waiver. Do not miss the court deadline while you wait for a lawyer to call back.

If you have an eviction on your record and are searching for a new place, our guide to low-income housing with an eviction explains your options.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

Getting rent help, step by step

1. Read any notice carefully and write down the date it was served and the amount demanded.
2. Talk to your landlord in writing about a payment plan, and keep a copy.
3. Dial 2-1-1 and ask which Kern County rent, deposit, and prevention programs are open.
4. If you have children, apply for CalWORKs and Homeless Assistance at the Department of Human Services.
5. If you got court papers, call GBLA and the court self-help center the same day, and file your Answer on time.
6. Apply for utility and food help through CAPK and CalFresh to free up money for rent.
7. Get on any open housing lists and keep your contact details current.

Related guides

• Long Beach rental assistance
• California rent relief program
• Rent relief programs
• Second chance apartments that accept evictions

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Program funding and waiting lists change often, so confirm details with each agency. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with Kern County, the City of Bakersfield, or any government agency. Applying for official programs is free.