We are coming to the end of 2020 – a year of great challenge that shook us all to our core – between the pandemic, civil unrest related to racism and injustice, and the ongoing housing crisis.

This year did not knock BACS down, but rather built us up as an agency of the people, of the community, and for the community. Not only did BACS not skip a beat this year, we opened a record number of new programs and interventions, spreading our reach even further and deeper in to the community.

This year, BACS served 12,478 people – more than ever before – between 4 Counties. As you read through our Annual Report for 2019-2020, focus on the people. The people we serve, the people we hire from our communities, the people that have given to BACS. You will see an organization that is the Community’s Organization. Your Neighborhood’s Organization.

And while next year will be just as challenging as this year, we have gotten even stronger – sharper in our focus that without BACS in your neighborhood, 12,000 people would not have gotten the critical help they needed. They would not have gotten roofs over their heads. Services to navigate them back to health and wellbeing. Rental assistance to stave off an eviction. A new job after not working for years due to their disability. Support coming out of an institution like a hospital or jail to help them reintegrate.

For BACS – we will continue to hold our communities – break the vicious and racist cycles that keep our communities down – and our mission will not be met until we do so.

This would not be possible without the thousands of donors and supporters, families and community supports of our clients, funders and local governments committed to bold solutions, landlords who welcome people exiting homelessness, staff who do “whatever it takes” for our clients, and many others. The BACS family runs deep and wide – thank you for sharing in our accomplishments, our journey as you read our Annual Report (PDF version here).