BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Beginning Thursday, and running through Saturday, dozens of volunteers will provide clothing, counseling, job training, hot meals, housing information and more for homeless vets.

Kern County Stand Down Committee volunteers have built a tent city at Stramler Park that will be open for the next three days in the ninth annual "Stand Down."

Images: Homeless Veterans

Of the 1,500 homeless veterans in Kern County, volunteers said they're expecting only about 200 to attend. Statistics indicate there are 4,500 homeless in Kern County.

Robert Wright is a homeless vet who has fought a long battle with alcoholism. He said he's finally sober and hopes the event can help him start over with his life.

A "stand down" is a military term used when exhausted troops are removed from combat and taken to safety.

That's exactly what the program is meant to do.