Honoring John Steinfirst, LCSW, Board Chair (1940-2025)
There has never been, and never will be, another John F. Steinfirst. BACS mourns the loss of our beloved Board Chair, mentor, and friend, John F. Steinfirst, LCSW. John was a leader, innovator, and advocate whose life was devoted to advancing social justice and strengthening communities.
John devoted his life to justice, compassion, and community. From his early days challenging segregation as a student, to his groundbreaking leadership in mental health and youth services, to his unwavering commitment to BACS for the last 16 years, John embodied the belief that when something is right, you simply do it.
BACS is carrying his legacy forward, in honor of John’s extraordinary life and leadership, with the John Steinfirst Memorial Fund.
Gifts made here will carry forward the causes he cared about most: expanding access to housing, behavioral health care, and community support for people too often left behind. Learn more about his impact and be part of his legacy.
Three Visionary Leaders Join Our Board
BACS is thrilled to welcome three exceptional leaders to our board of directors!
- Marshall Williams: CEO of Project Pet and Executive Director of Bay Area One Health Coalition, Marshall brings expertise in criminal justice reform and social services.
- Jason Bell: Director of Project Rebound, with 21+ yrs of justice reform experience & lived experience of incarceration.
- Ron Germann: with over a decade of experience at Off The Streets Ministries, he brings expertise in addressing incarceration, substance use, and homelessness.
Together, their collective expertise and passion will help drive meaningful impact in our community. Read the full announcement!
KQED Forum Features BACS
BACS is excited to share that our homelessness work – particularly encampment outreach – was featured on KQED’s Forum this month!
BACS’ own Markos Gonzalez, Associate Director of Programs – Community Outreach, joined the discussion alongside NPR housing reporter Vanessa Rancaño, Sharon Cornu of St. Mary’s Center, and community member Keanna Ward, who shared her lived experience.
“This work can be both incredibly rewarding and heartbreaking for those of us who witness it every day,” said Markos. “My street outreach team is out there five days a week, and the toll it takes is real. But there’s hope.”
At BACS, we believe in making homelessness brief and rare, and ensuring that there is no wrong door when coming to BACS for help. Our Housing Resource Centers, street outreach, and behavioral health programs are designed to help people stabilize quickly, access resources, and prevent chronic homelessness. Listen today!
BACS in CalMatters: Delta Landing and California’s Fight to End Homelessness
For the first time in years, California is seeing real progress in reducing homelessness, with more than half of the counties reporting declines. In Contra Costa County, homelessness dropped by 25%, thanks in large part to new investments that expanded shelter and housing capacity by over a third.
One of those investments was BACS’ Delta Landing in Pittsburg, a 172-unit supportive housing site that transformed local capacity. Before Delta Landing opened in 2021, East Contra Costa had only about 20 beds available for people experiencing homelessness. Today, Delta Landing provides a safe, stable environment for hundreds of residents to rebuild their lives, offering on-site case management, housing navigation, and wellness support.
But this progress is in danger. Federal and state funding for homelessness programs — including the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program that helped launch Delta Landing — faces deep cuts. New federal restrictions could disqualify many California providers, and the state is set to reduce its own homelessness funding by half next year.
Without continued investment, the hard-won decreases in homelessness could quickly reverse. BACS remains committed to keeping this momentum going. Read the article here.
Partnerships for Homeless Care in Alameda County
In California, more than 181,000 people live on the streets and in shelters, more than in any other state in the nation. California’s CalAIM initiative has created new opportunities for homeless service organizations to partner with the health care sector to align services and enhance care delivery for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. BACS is honored to be spotlighted as an innovative cross-sector partnership in Alameda County, working to improve care and service delivery for people experiencing homelessness through CalAIM services.
Integrating Substance Use Disorder Treatment into Transitional Housing: Lessons from Alameda County – Explores lessons from BACS’ Alameda County pilot designed to integrate substance use treatment services, including harm reduction, medications for addiction treatment, and contingency management, for people residing in interim housing. Read more about the partnerships here.
Towne House Legacy Visits Sacramento
This month, BACS welcomed a special visit from Milly Alvarez, the longtime former Director of Towne House Wellness Center, which first opened its doors in 1969. Milly, who led Towne House from 1980 until her retirement, traveled to Sacramento with current Towne House staff Verenice and Clarise to see how BACS’ legacy of community-based wellness has grown statewide.
The team toured Sacramento’s Willow Wellness Center & upcoming Árbol project with Harjit Singh Gill, MA, LCSW , sparking meaningful conversations on social work & community impact. Special thanks to Millie Alvarez, former Towne House manager, for her participation. Millie noted that seeing showers, laundry, and a truly welcoming environment showed how deeply BACS’ approach to dignity and connection continues to evolve.
After decades of service, Milly said she felt “even prouder to have been associated with BACS since 1980.” Her visit was a powerful reminder that the foundation laid at Towne House continues to inspire innovation and transform lives across California.
