Housing Authority of Kern Rental Assistance
Rent & Utility Assistance Program
Phone: 661-578-5339
Program Information
The Housing Authority of the County of Kern is now accepting applications for the Rent & Utility Assistance Program. If you are a renter and were impacted financially by COVID-19 you may be eligible to receive short-term assistance for rent and/or utility costs.
Help with rent and utilities is now available IF you meet the following requirements:
- At least 1 member of your household qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19.
- Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
- Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median household; and
- Are a renter in the City of Bakersfield or Kern County
How to Apply
- At least 1 member of your household qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19.
- Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and
- Have a household income at or below 80% of the area median household; and
- Are a renter in the City of Bakersfield or Kern County
*Tenants who apply for the city or county aid CANNOT apply for state aid as well. It’s one or the other.
Apply by email:
- Download application
- Fully complete application
- Email fully complete application + documentation items to [email protected] Contact with any questions: 661-578-5339
Mail Application:
Attn: Rent & Utility Assistance Program
Housing Authority of the County of Kern 601 24th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301
The Bakersfield Homeless Center
1600 E Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661-322-9199
Program Information
Help with rental assistance, utility allowance, free appliances for rentals, $1,000.00 sign on bonus for accepting a client of theirs (separate check from rent & deposit), reimbursement of funds for approved repairs, etc.
The Bakersfield Homeless Center 1-2 Month Rent Assistance
Program Information
Helps with only 1-2 months of rent assistance for those who maybe just need a little bit of
help. Funding is through FEMA.
Requirements:
Must call 211 to confirm eligibility for this program.
Catholic Social Services
310 Baker St., Bakersfield, CA- 93305
Phone: 661.281.2130
Program Information
Charity has available funding for those who qualify for rent or utility assistance. They also can help tenants with food and groceries.
How to Apply
- Must call 661-281-2130 and speak with an enrollment advisor to confirm eligibility.
- They will ask for income verification, family size, how much rent is past due, notices issued, etc.
McFarland Family Resource Center
410 East Perkins Ave., McFarland, CA 93250
Phone: 661-792-1883
Website: mcfarlandusd.com
Program Information
Program is operated and managed by the McFarland School District. They support and provide many different resources to families. Some of these resources include:
- Services Support
- Rental Assistance
- Utility Assistance
- Food Baskets
Requirements:
Contact Lidia Cazares at 661-792-1883 for more information.
Taft Necessary Emergency Economic District Site
518 Main St., Taft, CA 93268
Phone: 661-763-4888
Email: [email protected]
Program Information
**These services are for Taft Residents only.**
Provides utility and rental assistance, emergency shelter, food, clothing, referrals to other agencies, elephone access, prescription assistance, etc.
Requirements:
Call for assistance with the application or you can make an appointment to walk in
and speak with someone.
Delano Community Connection Center
1842 Norwalk St., Delano, CA 93215
Phone: 661-721-7036
Website: duesd.com
Program Information
Provides emergency food boxes, rental and utility assistance, car seats for expectant mothers, car seats for children 0-5, clothing, etc.
Requirements:
- Call 661-721-7036 to start an application.
- Anyone who is a resident of Kern County can apply
Proteus Incorporated
1816 Cecil Ave., Delano, CA 93215
Phone: 661-721-5800
Website: proteusinc.org
Email: [email protected]
Program Information
Coverage is for all of Kern County. Program provides mortgage payment assistance, emergency rental and utility payment assistance, employment and training services, food, .
This covers all utility providers (PGE, So Cal Gas, & All water companies in Kern County).
Requirements:
Call 661-721-5800 to be scheduled for an appointment and orientation. From there, applicants will know if they qualify for assistance.
Sharing & Caring of Tehachapi
230 S Pauley St., Tehachapi, CA 93561
Phone: 661-822-3001
Program Information
Charity has available funding for those who qualify for rent or utility assistance. They also can help tenants with food and groceries.
Requirements:
- Must call 661-281-2130 and speak with an enrollment advisor to confirm eligibility.
- They will ask for income verification, family size, how much rent is past due, notices issued, etc.
United Family Loan
Website: unitedfamilyloan.com
Program Information
Anyone impacted by COVID who has some type of steady income, and can apply to receive funding up to $35,000.00. This is a personal loan that can be used for bill payments, home repairs, unexpected expenses, etc.
Requirements:
- Must at least be 18 years old
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Currently employed or receive steady income.
- Have a bank account to receive funds (ideally with direct deposit)
- Terms of loan can range all the way up to 180 days.
*If approved, funds are available in the customers account within 24-48 business hours.
One Fair Wage Emergency Fund
Website: ofwemergencyfund.org/help
Program Information
This is an emergency financial assistance program that sends money to service workers (restaurant workers, delivery drivers, service workers, and other tipped workers) who are seeing their income decline during this disaster or are not able to work because of quarantines or other health concerns.
Requirements:
- Must be working in one of the described industries above.
- Must fill out the form online.
- Can only apply once. If applying multiple times they will decline the application.
Unemployment Insurance
Website: edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/
Program Information
Provides partial income replacement when one has become unemployed OR has had hours
reduced. Program has been expanded to include workers who are freelancers, independent
contractors/gig workers, self employed, those with limited work history, and employees who
are still employed yet have a reduction in hours.
Bakersfield Vet Center (Veterans Assistance)
Phone: 877-424-3838
All Vets can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans for help 24/7
Wounded Heroes Fund (Veterans Assistance)
Phone: 661-328-8600
All Vets can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans for help 24/7
Program Information
Any Veteran can apply for aid. This includes but not limited to rent assistance, food assistance,
monthly food baskets, food kits (like hello fresh), ready to eat meal kits (delivered daily),
dental needs, classes, etc.
Contact below for services:
Erica Schaubschlager (Wounded Heroes Fund)
661-328-8600
Jenny Frank (Armed Forces Support Foundation)
661-395-4028
Vanessa Williams (California Veterans Assistance Foundation)
661-873-4600
Program Information
The Salvation Army is a national organization that is committed to helping the poor,
unemployed, elderly, and others. They often have money to help pay rent or other housing
expenses, such as energy bills or security deposits.
Requirements:
Tenants are to call 661-837-4243 to make an appointment with a case manager.
Priority is given to those who are extremely past due and are facing eviction once
moratorium is lifted.
California COVID-19 Rent Relief
Website: landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/covid_rr/program_overview
(Currently not accepting Bakersfield or Kern County Applications)
Accepting Tulare County Applications
Program Information
Landlords who participate in the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program can get reimbursed for
80% of an eligible tenant’s unpaid rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, if they agree
to waive the remaining 20% of unpaid rent during that specific time period.
Eligible tenants whose landlords choose not to participate in the program may apply on their
own and receive 25% of unpaid rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Paying this 25
percent by June 30, 2021 can help keep you in your home under the extended eviction
protections in SB 91.
Eligible tenants can receive prospective rental assistance equal to 25% of their monthly rent.
Combined with the assistance available for unpaid rent, prospective assistance will help
tenants stay housed once the eviction protections in SB 91 expire on June 30, 2021.
Eligible tenants may also receive assistance for utility arrears and prospective payments.
Utility arrears accumulated from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 will be compensated at
100% of cost, limited to a total of 12 months.
Requirements:
Application must be submitted and include all required information, along with necessary
verification items.
- A letter of termination from your job
- Most recent pay stub with employer’s information
- Evidence that you have applied for unemployment benefits
- Evidence that your unemployment benefits have expired, including
unemployment benefits provided through the CARES Act - For those self-employed: tax records, income statements, or other evidence
showing loss of income - Other items will be considered
Once an application has been successfully received, both the landlord and tenant will be
notified about the application status.
Requirements:
Have qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction
in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other
financial hardship due to COVID–19; and
Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability,
which may include:
- a past-due utility or rent notice or eviction notice;
- unsafe or unhealthy living conditions; or
- any other evidence of such risk, as determined by the program
Website: Have a household income that is not more than 80 percent of the area
The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program is not on a first come, first served basis. Applications
will be accepted on an ongoing basis. For all applications received, the state will first review
and commit funds to applicants who are eligible and meet the priority requirement having
Mortgage Assistance For Property Owners
Foreclosure Protection
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Program Information
Foreclosure protection is available for homeowners and small landlords who have federally
backed mortgages through the CARES Act. This also included landlords with 4 or fewer
properties (whether or not they are owner occupied). This extends the Homeowners Bill of
Rights anti-foreclosure protections to small landlords, 1-4 units, non-owner occupied.
Mortgage & Fee Relief are agreed by these following mortgage lenders:
- Citigroup
Website: online.citi.com/US/JRS/pands/detail.do
Phone: 1-855-839-6253
- JP Morgan Chase
Website: chase.com/digital/resources/coronavirus
Phone: 1-800-848-9380
- US Bank
Website: usbank.com/splash/covid-19
Phone: 1-800-365-7900
- Wells Fargo
Website: wellsfargo.com/jump/enterprise/coronavirus-response
Water Board- Cannot shut off water during COVID. Report any water shut off issue at:
Website: watershut-off.covid19.ca.gov/
California COVID-19 Rent Relief
**Only open for counties who do not have local assistance***
Website: landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov/covid_rr/program_overview
Program Information
If you are a landlord who has one or more eligible tenants, you can apply to get reimbursed
for 80% of each eligible tenant’s unpaid rent between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, if you
agree to waive the remaining 20% of unpaid rent for that specific time period.
Requirements:
Application must be submitted and include all required information, along with necessary
verification items.
- All payments must be used to satisfy the tenant’s unpaid rent for the period between
April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. - Your tenants must take steps to verify that they meet eligibility requirements and sign
the application. - Your tenant’s household income must be at or below 80 percent of the Area Median
Income (AMI).
Required Documentation:
- Property Deed(s)
- Mortgage Deed(s)
- Property Tax Documents
- Copy of Property Insurance Statement
- Lease or rental agreement reflecting tenants name, residence address, and monthly
rent due
United Family Loan
Website: unitedfamilyloan.com
Program Information
Anyone impacted by COVID who has some type of steady income, and can apply to receive
funding up to $35,000.00. This is a personal loan that can be used for bill payments, home
repairs, unexpected expenses, etc.
Requirements:
- Must at least be 18 years old
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Currently employed or receive steady income.
- Have a bank account to receive funds (ideally with direct deposit)
- Terms of loan can range all the way up to 180 days.
*If approved, funds are available in the customers account within 24-48 business hours.
Proteus Incorporated
1816 Cecil Ave., Delano, CA 93215
Phone: 661-721-5800
Website: proteusinc.org/
Email: [email protected]
Program Information
Coverage is for all of Kern County. Program provides mortgage payment assistance,
emergency rental and utility payment assistance, employment and training services, food, .
This covers all utility providers (PGE, So Cal Gas, & All water companies in Kern County).
Requirements:
Call 661-721-5800 to be scheduled for an appointment and orientation. From there,
applicants will know if they qualify for assistance
