FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
As demand for healthcare, housing support, and other essential services continues to grow across Kern County, a new integrated care campus will expand access to coordinated care for thousands of residents.
Community Vision has closed a $15 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation to help The Open Door Network (TODN) construct a new four building campus—the first transaction from Community Vision’s most recent allocation of tax credits. This allocation will be paired with additional ones from California Statewide Communities Development Corporation and Petros Community Impact Fund. Capital One is serving as the investor on this project.
The financing will help one of Kern County’s longest-serving nonprofits create a permanent home for integrated healthcare and community services.
“Our families and neighbors who seek our resources deserve a system with limited barriers and ample support,” said Lauren Skidmore, Chief Executive Officer of The Open Door Network. “This one-of-a-kind campus will make it easier for those who come through our doors to access the care they need in one place, allowing us to provide additional coordinated services. We will be able to welcome more children, families and community members in need; expanding what is possible for our entire community.”
For more than 45 years, TODN has served individuals and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, behavioral health challenges, and economic hardship throughout Kern County. The new campus represents the organization’s next chapter—bringing healthcare, behavioral health services, emergency shelter, transitional wellness care, childcare, workforce development, and family services together in one location to make care more coordinated, accessible, and effective.
“When community organizations have permanent spaces to grow, they can serve more people and respond to changing needs for decades to come,” said Catherine Howard, President of Community Vision. “This campus will make it easier for people to access comprehensive care in one place while giving The Open Door Network the long-term stability to grow alongside the community it serves. We’re proud to make this the first transaction from our latest NMTC allocation.”
The investment comes at a time when healthcare providers and community-serving organizations face rising construction costs, evolving funding landscapes, and growing demand for services. NMTCs help bridge financing gaps by attracting private investment into historically underinvested communities, making projects like TODN’s campus possible.
“This new campus will enable TODN to substantially increase the number of clients they serve, addressing unmet needs in and around Bakersfield. The NMTC program provides very low-cost debt and a unique structure that enables organizations like TODN to dedicate much more of their revenue to providing services, rather than servicing market-rate debt,” said Scott Sporte, Vice President of Lending at Community Vision.
The need is especially acute in Kern County. Bakersfield continues to experience some of California’s highest rates of homelessness, fueled by persistent poverty, rising housing costs, and limited access to behavioral health services. At the same time, local providers face growing demand for coordinated care that addresses not only immediate health needs, but also the underlying factors that contribute to long-term instability.
Recent events have added urgency to TODN’s expansion. One of the organization’s primary service facilities was acquired to make way for California High-Speed Rail construction, requiring critical programs to relocate. Rather than simply replacing what was lost, TODN is using this opportunity to create a campus that will consolidate programs previously spread across multiple locations.
“This project demonstrates what is possible when nonprofit organizations, public partners, and private investors work together. The new campus will expand essential services, create jobs, and provide The Open Door Network with a permanent home from which it can serve our community for generations,” said Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh.
Once completed, the campus will include:
- Emergency shelter for individuals and families
- A 35-bed transitional wellness care unit
- Healthcare and behavioral health offices
- Case management and housing navigation services
- Workforce development and logistics training programs
- A childcare center and early childhood education programs
- A commercial kitchen and dining hall
The campus will be the first shelter of its kind in California—and one of only a few nationwide—to offer on-site childcare, helping parents access services while their children receive early education and care.
By 2031, TODN expects the campus to serve approximately 2,481 individuals annually—a 94 percent increase over the programs being consolidated. The project will also create or retain 109 permanent jobs and support 61 construction jobs, strengthening both community wellbeing and the local economy.
Media Contact:
Matias Bernal
Vice President of Development
415-392-8215
mbernal@communityvisionca.org
About Community Vision:
Founded in 1987 as the Northern California Community Loan Fund, Community Vision advances community ownership of community assets across California. Through lending, advising, and partnership, we support nonprofits and community-rooted organizations in securing the spaces that help communities thrive and build long-term stability. To date, we’ve invested more than $672 million in financing, leveraged over $3.4 billion, and distributed more than $39 million in grants. Community Vision is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) and an Equal Opportunity Provider.
