Council extends expanded BLNC shelter operations to 318 beds; Weir votes no

The Bakersfield City Council voted to extend expanded shelter operations at the Bakersfield Life Navigation Center (BLNC), which has been expanded in stages and now provides 318 beds.

Council member Gonzales said the shelter had been expanded from an original 150 beds to 318 and said the expansion helped address the homelessness crisis. She cited a point-in-time count that shows a year-over-year reduction in unsheltered people. After the vote, Mayor Karen Goh clarified the point-in-time count decreased by 10.2% from 2024 to 2025.

City Manager Clegg described the context for future decisions on shelter capacity. He said that for several years partners recognized a gap in emergency shelter and supportive housing and that the city has been building affordable and permanent supportive housing through its Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Clegg said hundreds of units entered the pipeline several years ago and that, in the past year and the current year, the city has started seeing 50, 100 and 150-unit projects come online. He said it would be appropriate to begin evaluating shelter capacity and possible reductions “in the next year or two” as more permanent housing becomes available.

Council member Gonzales asked for a multiyear forecast and plan — a five-year outlook — so the council can responsibly consider scaling down beds and reallocating funds. A motion to approve item 7I3 passed; the clerk recorded the motion as approved with Council member Weir voting no and Council member Arias absent.