With 4,818 families, seniors and youth currently residing in low income public housing or receiving Section 8 housing vouchers, and another 12,000 families on the public housing wait list, and 13,000 on the Section 8 wait list, Kern County has a serious demand issue for affordable housing. Those on the waiting list cannot gain access to low income public housing or Section 8 vouchers until there is a vacancy. This is why Kern County needs HOFK. We offer a variety of programs designed to support, educate, and empower our clients to redirect their lives, move out of low income housing, and become self-sufficient members of society. Many of our senior and adult clients are dealing with generational poverty and are now taking the steps to break that cycle. For others, poverty is situational; usually caused by the loss of a job, and we are here to provide them with a helping hand.