BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Bakersfield leaders approved a $2.5 million investment Wednesday to help build a new Open Door Network shelter aimed at families facing homelessness.
The Bakersfield City Council voted five to one to approve the funding for the project, which Open Door Network CEO Lauren Skidmore said will significantly expand the organization’s capacity and services.
“Now, we’re at about 230 beds. We’ll be able to go up to 350. We’ll be able to expand our licensed childcare and our after-school program. We’ll be able to enhance programs related to medical and mental health services, and this is really going to be an all-encompassing campus for homeless families and children,” Skidmore said.
Bakersfield City Council approves $2.5 million for new Open Door Network shelter (KBAK/KBFX)
Skidmore described the planned 74,000-square-foot shelter as a campus that will include an administrative building, a donations and dining hall building, a dorm and wellness center, and a childcare and after-school building.
The project comes as the 2025 Kern County Point-in-Time Count showed a 2.3% decrease in homelessness. Still, Skidmore said supporting families remains critical.
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“We know that homelessness in Kern County is fairly steady in comparison to other cities in the state, but we need to make sure that we are always keeping in mind the women and children because the way that they are facing homelessness is different than other populations,” she said.
Bakersfield City Council approves $2.5 million for new Open Door Network shelter (KBAK/KBFX)
During the City Council meeting, some members raised concerns about taxpayer spending.
Councilmember Ken Weir of Ward 3 said, “I don’t see how the city, in the state that it is in, really has money to spend on projects like this.”
Skidmore said the funding will come from the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and noted the money had already been set aside.
Bakersfield City Council approves $2.5 million for new Open Door Network shelter (KBAK/KBFX)
“And the money was allocated in the city’s budget back in June or July of last year. So, the money has been allocated towards this project. I’m sure if the money wasn’t allocated towards this project, it would be allocated towards a similar type of project because of the designation of the dollars,” Skidmore said.