Bakersfield Homeless Center given extra $346K to help get families off streets

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Tuesday, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved to allot an extra $346,128 to the Bakersfield Homeless Center's Rapid Re-Housing program.

The program is funded by CalWORKS. The additional $346,128 added to the existing $568,800 brings the total for this year's project to $914,928, which goes until June 30, 2019. The money is used to help families with rental and utility financial assistance.

Last year, the program helped 1,426 families move off the streets and back home. Bakersfield Homeless Center CEO Louis Gill said of the families they help, less than 6% return to homelessness.

"Homelessness is really hard on children. And so this program allows parents to get that deposit, first months rent and move quickly back home instead of having their child endure living in a shelter," said Gill.

The extra money added Tuesday will help an additional 209 families move off the streets.