Antioch

Antioch sits along the San Joaquin River in eastern Contra Costa County, a working-class city that's seen waves of change but still holds onto a tight-knit, blue-collar feel, even as gentrification creeps in from the Bay Area. The average household income here hovers around $95,000, but that number hides a lot of struggle underneath it, especially for renters and those living paycheck to paycheck. Contra Costa County's most recent point-in-time count found over 2,300 people experiencing homelessness in 2023, and Antioch carries a real share of that number, particularly around East 18th Street and the downtown corridor. Winter Nights Family Shelter works to keep families off the street during the coldest months, while Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa serves hot meals to anyone who walks through the door, no questions asked. Monument Crisis Center, based in nearby Concord, also extends food and resource support to people from Antioch who make the trip. This city can be hard, but there are people here who haven't given up on you, and neither should you.