BACS Launches 2025 Annual Report

We’re excited to unveil our Annual Report for 2025. It has been a year of upheaval, challenge, and hard-earned growth—but also a year that has sharpened our purpose. In the face of uncertainty, we have stayed rooted in what matters most: our commitment to community, dignity, and action.

Not only did BACS serve a record number of people this year (over 22,887) but we kept our outcomes strong. Real impact on each person matters as much to us as the number of people helped.

Read the full Report here.

114 People Are Already Home. We Are Just Getting Started.

This month, REGIS Village in Hayward welcomed state and local leaders to see where funding for housing and behavioral health is succeeding.

What they found:

• 114 people already living indoors.
• 70 permanent supportive housing residents with their own lock and their own key.
• 44 individuals in Behavioral Health Bridge Housing stabilizing and moving toward permanent housing.

And construction still underway on the other side of the campus, because we refused to make people wait.

“The goal is straightforward: people move indoors quickly, they stabilize, we connect them to long-term housing and recovery pathways,” said Qimmah Hameed, VP of Community Engagement at BACS. “These first two models, 114 units total, are already operational. We did not wait for full renovation. We implemented a phased construction plan with our contractors so that each wing, as they are completed, can bring people inside without delay. That is efficiency – that is urgency – and that is impact.”

In four months, the full campus opens. Every bed. Every service. All under one roof. This is what “whatever it takes” looks like.

BACS Celebrates Black History Month

February was Black History Month and we’re proud to highlight the voices within our team this Black History Month—individuals helping build stronger, more compassionate communities.

Clarise, Towne House Associate Director of Programs, shares, “participation in [BACS] and the African Wellness Hub Advisory Committee allows [me] to bring a culturally grounded, trauma-informed lens to the design table—one that centers lived experience, uplifts community wisdom, and ensures our wellness spaces reflect the dignity, healing, and brilliance of our people.”

Reinaldi Gilder, our restorative justice navigator, reflects, “The work we do is extremely important to the overall health of the people we serve…we serve as a beacon of hope…supporting positive transformation in the lives of individuals and families.”

We’re grateful for team members like Clarise and Reinaldi, and inspired every day by the strength and resilience of our clients. Together, we continue building a more just and equitable.

Finding Stability One Step at a Time

When Deetra walked into Cedar Wellness Center in Sacramento last year, she was ready to turn her life around. After experiencing homelessness for an extended period, she’d experienced many ups and downs, but this year, with the help of Cedar’s Housing Locator and Care Coordinator, she took a huge leap forward, moving into a furnished apartment.

Stories like Deetra’s are the heart of our work. We are proud to be part of her milestone, and we’re continuously making impact like this across 5 counties, over 13 cities and over 22,000 people last year alone. We’re proud of Deetra’s journey and we’re keeping that same “Whatever It Takes” attitude for every person who walks through our doors.

Site Visit: Árbol Welcomes Former Sacramento Mayor

Mayor Steinberg has long been one of California’s strongest champions for mental health, dating back to his leadership in passing the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Today, his work through the Steinberg Institute keeps him at the forefront of advocacy statewide.

At Árbol, we are putting that vision into action. This program delivers forensic Full Service Partnership (FSP) and outpatient services—funded by Sacramento County—specifically for justice-involved clients. These are critical supports that help individuals stabilize, heal, and successfully reintegrate into the community.

We are grateful to Mayor Steinberg for his unwavering service and for recognizing the impact of these services on the ground. His leadership continues to make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve.

BACS Provides Aid to Residents Affected by Recent Oakland Fire

On January 19, a devastating three-alarm fire at 1770 Broadway displaced dozens of Oakland families who lost their homes and belongings in an instant. While firefighters acted swiftly to evacuate residents and contain the blaze, our neighbors now face the difficult journey of rebuilding their lives.

The City of Oakland has partnered with BACS (Bay Area Community Services) to serve as the central provider for displaced residents, offering services, financial assistance, and critical support resources. “For more than 73 years, BACS has stepped in during moments like these with strength, conviction, and expertise, and we will walk alongside every single person and family until they are safely rehoused and can begin to heal from this trauma,” says BACS CEO Jamie Almanza.

Mayor Barbara Lee is calling on the Oakland community to stand together. Your contributions will directly help residents secure new housing, replace essential belongings, and begin their recovery. Every dollar makes a difference for families working to regain their sense of security and home.

Our community is strongest when we take care of each other. Please give what you can today.

https://bayareacs.org/1700broadway/

Welcoming New Board Member Hilda Nguthu-Bell

BACS is proud to announce Hilda Nguthu-Bell as our newest board member. A psychiatric nurse at Sutter Health and originally from Kenya, Hilda brings a powerful combination of clinical expertise, nonprofit leadership, and lived experience that strengthens our board’s capacity to serve our community.

Hilda is the founder of Faraji House, a transitional home supporting women and families in East Oakland. “Faraji” means “consolation” in Swahili, a fitting name that reflects her deep commitment to uplifting those in need. Her extensive background includes expertise in intimate partner violence, therapeutic care, and corporate healthcare infrastructure, making her an invaluable addition to our leadership.

BACS and Faraji House have worked together to ensure those mothers and families affected by Intimate Partner Violence are united in their service offerings. CEO Jamie Almanza championed her nomination to bring critical clinical and therapeutic representation to the board. The board expressed strong and enthusiastic support for her appointment.

BACS is proud to collaborate with Hilda and support her vision for strengthening our community. Welcome to the BACS family, Hilda!

New Beginnings: Árbol and REGIS Village Open Doors

We’re thrilled to share two exciting updates!

REGIS Village Opens in Hayward: The first residents moved into their new permanent supportive housing units, marking a major milestone in our efforts to end homelessness. The 70-unit campus offers housing, healthcare, and support services, prioritizing those with the greatest need.

Árbol Open House in Sacramento: We celebrated the opening of Árbol, our newest multi-service center, with friends from Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services and the community. Thanks to everyone who joined us for the festivities.

Donations Driving Change

We’re proud to highlight some amazing donations that are changing lives. The Prabhakar family has been partnering with BACS for over a decade, donating winter clothing and essentials to those in need.

A bike giveaway was a huge hit, with 10 refurbished bikes (thanks to Kids Bike Lane) bringing freedom and joy to recipients, including Rachel’s kids.

The Black Staff and Faculty Organization and UCOP also stepped up, donating 10 Home in a Basket. Filled with essentials like kitchenware, bedding, toiletries, and grocery store gift cards, Homes in a Basket make a huge difference in helping clients settle into their new homes.

SNAP Failed, BACS Stepped Up

The cuts to SNAP benefits hurts millions of people across America. Close to home, we know that many of the people we serve with behavioral health challenges and housing insecurity are at risk of going hungry. Our CORE Cedar leadership in Sacramento stepped up.

The Cedar team rallied together and started collecting food. The leadership also made donations which allowed 50 families to receive meals. Ongoing, we are connecting clients with additional resources and doing everything we can to make food available for people in need until SNAP benefits are restored and people can make up for lost time.

Community Engagement Events Round-up

The BACS community engagement team was proud to connect with the community at four standout events.

Oakland Chinatown’s Night Market was a lively celebration, celebrating vibrant culture and supporting local businesses.

We joined the City of Berkeley’s celebration of Latine heritage, featuring the breathtaking Cuauhtli Mitotiani Mexica Youth Group performance.

Our Black August event brought together over 500 people to honor Black freedom fighters and celebrate resilience, thanks to Boss Bay Area.

The House of Loving Hands community BBQ was a heartwarming celebration of unity, resilience, and hope, with food, games, and resources

Success Story

When Wilmer faced housing crisis on a Friday before a long weekend, Breanna at our Cedar CORE site in Sacramento sprang into action. She secured a safe transfer to a new room, plus a rent credit, ensuring the client’s stability and access to treatment.

As Breanna put it, “An honor to serve,” – her dedication and compassion are illustrative of the care our team brings daily.

Wilmer echoed this sentiment, sharing, “My case manager has been helpful and understanding.”

Thanks to Breanna’s quick advocacy, Wilmer stayed stable, and a potential crisis was averted, highlighting the power of compassionate care in action.

Gratitude for our Partnership with Options Recovery

We are Grateful for Partners like Options Recovery. They do vital work in substance use disorder support. Thanks Justin Phillips & team for being crucial to our continuum of care!

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.

Dasheda’s Story: “Life Has Never Been Better”

When Dasheda Johnson was released from prison after three years, she was determined to rewrite her story—for herself and for her six children. She knew she couldn’t return to the same environment that had held her back, so she made the brave decision to leave her home county, break her life patterns, and search for the support she needed.

At first, that journey was full of frustration. Dasheda cycled through multiple programs that promised stability but never delivered. Then, everything changed when she was accepted into BACS’ transitional housing program at the Holland.

“People make mistakes, but that shouldn’t define who they are,” she says. “BACS is a program that gives people like me hope.”

Today, Dasheda is full of gratitude. She’s proud of how far she’s come, and she’s focused on what lies ahead: continuing to build her future and reuniting with her children.

Read the full story on our website.

Community Connect Summer Celebrations: A Time for Joy and Connection

This year’s Community Connect Summer Celebrations were a huge success. These joyous events brought together our BACS clients, neighbors, staff, and local businesses for a series of fun-filled gatherings, featuring delicious food, great music, and meaningful connections.

Our BACS clients enjoyed a variety of vendors, sweet treats, and activities, including photobooths, massages, and lively entertainment. The welcoming environment allowed everyone to unwind, have fun, and make unforgettable memories.

At BACS, we believe that community is at the heart of everything we do. Events like these help us build connections and create joyful experiences for those we serve. We’re grateful for the opportunity to come together and celebrate the spirit of community, and we look forward to many more opportunities in the future.

BACS & Clubhouse International: Enhancing Mental Health Support in Sacramento

Belonging is core to feeling comfortable and stable in your community, no matter your struggles – so our CORE Wellness Center sites in Sacramento build belonging from the ground up!  BACS founded our first program in this model back in 1969, Towne House Wellness Center, which is still open today – and we are proud to be part of Sacramento’s mental health landscape with these peer-run wellness centers, offering a welcoming space for individuals to access support, services, and community.

Excitingly, a new initiative aims to build on the strengths of existing services like ours, bringing Clubhouse International’s community-driven model to Sacramento. By complementing current resources, this approach offers a unique and promising way to support individuals in need. As Erica Jones, who started the local group, notes, “It’s not competing with anything: It’s to help add to what’s already there and provide something that isn’t really available in the same way elsewhere.”

Empowering Women, Building Community

BACS took part in the 2nd annual Women of Valor event organized by St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County in Oakland, aimed at facilitating resource sharing for survivors of domestic violence. Unfortunately, too many survivors of domestic violence experience homelessness or behavioral health challenges after their experiences, and BACS is proud to be part of their safety net in rebuilding their lives.

The event was dedicated to honoring women who have demonstrated courage and valor, providing support to those in need, and advocating for women’s empowerment. Thanks to this event, BACS engaged with many remarkable women and helped them connect with a range of services offered by BACS to help them thrive – prevention programs, housing initiatives, interim housing options, wellness centers, and employment assistance.

The talented culinary training team at St. Vincent De Paul prepared lunch for all attendees of the event. The day concluded with numerous giveaways that brought joy to each woman present. BACS felt privileged to be part of this event, to celebrate the progress women have made, and help them on the road to a brighter future.

BACS Celebrates Darryl McDavid’s Board of Supervisors Commendation

BACS is celebrating and congratulating Darryl McDavid, a fantastic leader on the BACS team who received a commendation from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for his outstanding contributions! Darryl co-founded, co-designed, and now manages the NET Growth Movement at BACS.

Darryl’s journey exemplifies determination and hard work, from navigating the foster care system to earning a degree from CSU East Bay. As one of the 3% of former foster youth to graduate from college, Darryl dedicates his career to empowering others to achieve their goals and build a brighter future.

We’re deeply grateful for Darryl’s commitment to creating positive change in Alameda County. Thank you for being a remarkable role model and source of inspiration.

New Approach to Justice: BACS’ Restorative Justice Program Empowers Young Adults

Reinaldi Gilder’s new role as the Restorative Justice Navigator at BACS marks a significant development in the organization’s approach to addressing the needs of individuals involved in the justice system. As the only position of its kind in BACS and the county, this program aims to pilot restorative justice practices that can potentially be replicated across teams.

The program, led by a dedicated team, brings together participants aged 18-24 who have been selected due to their involvement in Behavioral Court for an 8-week group session. The group discussions cover topics such as root cause analysis, re-integration, and accountability. Role-playing exercises are also used to help participants practice difficult conversations and maintain composure.

By piloting this program, BACS hopes to create a model that promotes healing, restoration, and accountability, ultimately benefiting both individuals and the community.

Read the full story on our website.

Paige’s New Chapter: Safe, Stable, and Thriving

 

 

At 70, Paige had spent years cycling through the underlying challenges of our system including homelessness and behavioral health challenges. With compassion and persistence, our Circa60 team supported her every step of the way until she was ready to accept help.

Today, Paige is living safely in her first stable home housing placement in a decade. She’s no longer engaging in prior challenges and is building new connections with peers. Paige’s journey is a powerful reminder: it’s never too late to change.

New Program Launch: Bridge Housing Subsidy Management Now Open!

 

BACS is excited to announce the launch of our new Bridge Housing Subsidy Management (BHSM) program in Alameda County! BHSM helps people facing homelessness who are at serious health risk find safety and stability while they transition into permanent housing.

Through short-term rental subsidies, landlord mediation, and housing navigation, BHSM bridges the gap for individuals and families on the brink. The program supports people with chronic health conditions, including those impacted by COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, and prioritizes those with a history of homelessness and a verified income source.

BHSM also partners with landlords to maintain affordable housing, prevent displacement, and reduce barriers to long-term housing success. Together, we’re building healthier, more secure futures—one household at a time.