125 - Lauren Skidmore: Challenges Our Views on Homelessness

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lauren Skidmore was named the new CEO of Bethany Services, Inc., the nonprofit that</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">operates the Bakersfield Homeless Center and the Alliance Against Family Violence &</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Sexual Assault. Lauren replaced Louis Gill, who resigned after 21 years. She has spent</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">five years working as district director for Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County) and</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">was also appointed to the Kern County Planning Commission and Kern County</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">Employee Retirement Association. Prior to working with Fong, Lauren grew up as a</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">fifth-generation cattle rancher and was the director of Kern Citizens for Sustainable</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">Government.</span> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scott and Lauren discuss the services that the Bakersfield Homeless center has to offer and the barriers they need to overcome in order to make people feel comfortable seeking help. They touch on the different reasons why a person might find themselves without a home and how they cannot force them to stay and accept their services. They wrap up with an update on their new facility and when we can expect construction to start.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUREN SKIDMORE: </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Website: <a href= "https://bakhc.org/">https://bakhc.org/</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Email: <a href= "mailto:lskidmore@bakhc.org">lskidmore@bakhc.org</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Phone: 661-322-9199</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/bhccrews/">@bhccrews</a></span></p> <p> </p>