On Wednesday, crews from the City of Bakersfield closed down a homeless encampment on South Union Avenue that many residents had called home for years. In recent months the area had become a growing concern for officials responsible for enforcing city codes. Homeless advocates estimate that at the close, around 24 people lived in the encampment. Officials estimate that all but five found some sort of housing, either through shelters, programs or with family members.
Valley Public Radio spoke with Christine Lollar, one of the people who worked with the city and camp residents to find them housing and other services. Lollar is the Director of Homelessness Resources with the United Way of Kern County.