Kern County Secures $5.2 Million Grant to Combat Youth Homelessness

Kern County has been awarded an impressive $5.2 million Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grant, a major milestone in the collaborative efforts of local agencies to address youth homelessness and enhance critical resources for vulnerable populations.

“We’ve been applying for this grant since 2019, and when I found out we got it, I screamed and ran down the hallway,” said KCSOS School-Community Partnership Coordinator Allyson Baptiste. “This funding validates years of hard work and resilience for all involved in making this happen. It is a moment of pride for all of us.”

Baptiste co-wrote the grant proposal with Kern County Network for Children Prevention Specialist Bryanna Wood. With more than $5 million in funding, the pair agrees the new funding will undoubtedly reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness and prevent others from entering the cycle.

“We are ready to create meaningful, systemic change,” said Wood. “It’s not just about the numbers – it is about real lives. Every dollar will go toward helping youth in our community find safety, stability, and a chance at a better future.”

The need for resources has never been more urgent. More than 6,400 students were identified as homeless during the 2022-2023 school year under the McKinney-Vento Act. This doesn’t include the hundreds of transitional-aged youth aged 18-24 who are living unsheltered or in unstable housing arrangements, such as couch surfing or in temporary accommodations.

The grant funds will expand critical resources, including low-barrier shelters that provide safe, non-congregate housing environments tailored to youth. Other initiatives include adding beds, leasing apartments, hiring case managers for personalized support, and launching a flexible cash assistance program. This program will address urgent needs such as security deposits, emergency repairs, or other barriers that can lead to homelessness.

“Flexible cash assistance will be a game-changer,” said Baptiste. “It allows us to step in before a crisis escalates, keeping families housed and stable.”

Substance abuse recovery services and rapid rehousing programs are also priorities, ensuring youth can access both temporary shelter and pathways to sustainable independence.

A key to the grant’s success was the leadership of the Youth Action Board (YAB), a group of individuals aged 18–24 with lived experience of homelessness. Highlights from the YAB Needs Assessment revealed pressing challenges faced by transitional-aged youth experiencing homelessness in Kern County. 28% identified as LGBTQIA+, with many reporting barriers to accessing services due to their status. Additionally, 35% disclosed having a serious physical or mental health condition, and 40% cited difficulties in accessing vision, dental, mental, and physical healthcare due to affordability, transportation issues, lack of insurance understanding, and avoidance behaviors.

The survey also emphasized a need for more youth-specific supportive housing and low-barrier emergency shelter beds in non-congregate settings, as well as better education on navigating critical services like healthcare.

The Youth Action Board (YAB), a group of individuals aged 18–24 with lived experience of homelessness, was instrumental in helping secure grant funding.

From these findings, YAB members created a compelling video that also helped their application stand out from others.

“The video was essential because it showed the board’s personality, who we are, and how much we care about what we do,” said Fisher. “Not only that, it came straight from the youth who have been through homelessness and know what needs to be done because homelessness is solvable.”

With the grant awarded, the focus now shifts to developing a coordinated community plan, a detailed blueprint for allocating the funds to meet identified needs. The plan, which must be approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) within six months, will prioritize equity and effectiveness.

“This is just the beginning,” Baptiste said. “We’re ready to implement systemic changes that will create lasting impact.”