Candidate for Governor, Antonio Villaraigosa visited the Bakersfield Homeless Center on May 18th. 

Villaraigosa toured the Bakersfield Homeless Center long with Assemblymember Rudy Salas. Villaraigosa is a former assemblymember and served as the 41st mayor of Los Angeles. 

The highlight of Villaraigosa's visit is to meet with crew members whose lives have been changed by the Job Development Program at the homeless center. 

The program puts homeless and vulnerable individuals back into the workforce. 

The program, which began in 2009, was simply a contract to sort green waste for the City of Bakersfield, however, has now grown to include Highway Cleanup, the City Animal Care Center and the Downtown Street Ambassadors. 

Of those who have been employed by the Bakersfield Homeless Center Job Development Program, 86 percent are now in their home with their spouses and children. 

The Bakersfield Homeless Center is located at 1600 E. Truxtun Avenue.