Bay Area Community Services (BACS)

Supporting People, Supporting Community

Join Our Email List

Twitter icon Facebook icon Email icon
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Corporate Profile
    • Leadership
  • What We Do
    • Residential Services
      • Crisis Residential Treatment
      • Housing Fast
      • Recuperative Care
    • Intentional Care
      • Wellness Centers
      • CORE Wellness Centers
      • Community Wellness Response Team
      • CARE Court Supportive Services
      • Full Service Partnership
      • Supported Employment
    • Housing Solutions
      • Housing Resource Center (HRC)
      • Keep People Housed
      • Project Reclamation
  • Careers
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Donate Stock
    • Donor Advised Funds
    • Donate a Vehicle
    • Home in a Basket
  • News
  • Contact
  • Get Help
    • Alameda County
    • Contra Costa County
    • Sacramento County
    • Solano County
    • Yolo County
  • Donate

BACS Connections June 2019

June 24, 2019

Ending Senior Homelessness in Oakland

Victor N. receives his keys to his new home in Oakland. Victor is a veteran, and became homeless in January. He lived in his car, which made his health problems worse. After being hospitalized, he came to BACS and we were able to get him into housing. #HOUSED

BACS is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to house 515 homeless seniors in Oakland. This is a transformative change to how someone goes from homelessness to housing in the Bay Area.

“This partnership with Kaiser is a game-changer. So far, we have more than 250 seniors out of encampments, off the streets, and into permanent housing. With more programs like this, we are going to end homelessness in Oakland.” – Jamie Almanza

BACS is so grateful to Kaiser Permanente for funding this initiative, and proving that with flexible investment from our community, homelessness is a problem that can be solved.

Contra Costa County Welcomes BACS

BACS housing

Due to great community need in Contra Costa County, BACS is stepping in to sustain a crucial homeless program and two mental health programs after Anka Behavioral Health discontinued its services. BACS is now provides the Don Brown Housing Fast, Nierika House, and Nevin House programs. These three programs meet BACS’ mission, and support mental health and housing for populations that BACS has worked to uplift for more than 65 years.

After a very fast process, BACS stepped into these programs in June with zero interruption of client care. BACS is honored to work with the community, partners, and County of Contra Costa. To support this work, make a sustaining donation today.

Programs Celebrate Annual Successes

This month, BACS is celebrating 3 program anniversaries!

STAIR Center in Berkeley: In 2018, BACS partnered with City of Berkeley to open the STAIR Center – and in just one year, the 87 people are off the streets in Berkeley and in permanent housing.

Rosewood Place in Vallejo: Rosewood opened in 2017, providing community-based support to supplement or replace psychiatric hospitalization. This program helps hundreds of people each year, and saves taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Full Service Partnership (FSP): BACS’ first FSP opened in 2007 as the original “whatever it takes” program – and last year, we opened 3 more programs helping people who need it most. BACS’ FSPs break mental health, housing, and community barriers that hold people back.

Achieving Incredible Goals

Robert, a participant in BACS’ Supported Employment program and regular member of our Wellness Centers, recently completed a Biotecehnology Certificate Program at Ohlone College! Robert showed extreme dedication in reaching this goal, and his proud family joined him at his graduation to celebrate his achievement in completing the course, managing his wellness, and working full time. Congratulations, Robert!

Start a Career with BACS

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our career opportunities on our website, and learn more about what makes BACS special.

BACS welcomes people of all backgrounds and expertise to apply. Even if you have never worked in the mental health or homeless solutions fields, but you are inspired to make a change, reach out to BACS – we have many training and entry-level positions.

BACS provides benefits and perks like: fully covered medical/dental/vision/life insurance, tuition reimbursement for loans and tuition, clinical supervision hours towards licensure, internal growth opportunities, and more! BACS also works with a wide variety of populations, and has many opportunities for learning and advancement.

Invest in Your Community

Micah square

Our work has profound individual and community impacts. Every person that comes to BACS for help can achieve stability, move off of the streets, get a job, live safely with their mental health issue, or stay out of jail. And for each of those success stories, our community gets better. We see fewer people living on the streets or in poverty. We spend less on emergency medical services. We see less of our tax money going to prisons. Your investment in BACS, and in the people we help, transforms our community.

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 390 40th Street, Oakland, CA 94609. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly.

Tagged With: anka, kaiser, kaiser permanente, nevin house, oakland homelessness

BACS Connections May 2018

May 29, 2018

Former NFL Star Donates to Thunder Road

Anthony Trucks, former NFL athlete and “American Ninja Warrior” star, made a donation to BACS’ Thunder Road Program from his local gym. Trucks Training, his gym in Antioch, is a 24-hour facility dedicated to health and wellness for members of all fitness levels. Trucks epitomizes his philosophy of “Trust your hustle”, by creating opportunities for people to find the fitness solutions that work for their personal goals. The residents at Thunder Road will now have an opportunity to use a full-size Everlast punching bag to work on their fitness, physical and emotional health, thanks to his donation!

Homelessness Can Happen to Anybody

Before a brief jail sentence for illegal business activity, Glenn lived in Piedmont with his family. When he got out, Glenn struggled with homelessness. BACS was able to help Glenn get into housing, find satisfying employment, restore his benefits and healthcare, and get his life back on track. Today, Glenn is writing a play, supporting PhD research, and says his life is “prosperous.”

Glenn says, “I was learning to re-build my life. That’s what BACS is about. What BACS can do for me, it can do for anybody. Without BACS, I wouldn’t have known what’s possible again. And what’s possible is what’s imaginable.”

Supported Independent Living sites celebrate 45 years!

BACS opened our first Supported Independent Living (SIL) site in 1973 to help individuals who have mental health and other health-related issues such as homelessness and want to pursue sustainable housing in a safe environment.

Our SIL sites have made a difference for thousands of people over the last 45 years. Help us keep them open!

Winter Shelter Makes a Dent

BACS is dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to housing – and in the short term, we provide programs like the Winter Shelter to help make winters less dangerous for un-sheltered community members. Through just the Winter Shelter this year, BACS helped 79 people to become housed or end their un-sheltered status. Plus, 20 individuals moved from the Winter Shelter into our short-term housing, and 59 moved into permanent housing!

Older Americans Month

May is Older Americans Month, and BACS is honored to recognize older Americans who have contributed and made such a difference in our community. BACS knows that community activities help to enrich the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the population.  Older Adults offer a great deal of wisdom and experience to other generations. BACS is proud to do its part by offering older adults a place to connect during the day with the Adult Day Center (ADC). The ADC offers a space for socialization, recreation and mind building activities. Let us all take some time this month to honor an older American and continue to promote healthy aging.

Employee of the Month

BACS is delighted to announce Arash Darian as Employee of the Month! Arash works with BACS’ Wellness Centers, and has demonstrated exceptional accountability, positivity, and integrity with his work. He supports BACS in reaching crucial agency goals, balancing this with providing services and interventions that are supportive, engaging, and well-versed in the BACS philosophy of care.

Arash says, “I believe that the services that BACS and its teams provide are extremely important to the communities we serve and live in. BACS is often the “last stop” and the only agency that will work with some of the more severely disabled members of our communities. As I understand it, our goal as an agency is to help those who need it, as much as possible, and that is a cause that I believe in, not only professionally, but morally as well. Based on the work that I have seen many of my colleagues do, this is a mentality that is shared throughout the agency”

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?

Micah square

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly!

Currently the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation is matching all new gifts up to $50,000! This funding will go to end homelessness in the Bay Area.

Do you work for Cisco? You can donate to BACS, and the Cisco Matching Gifts program will match your gift!

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities. Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

Tagged With: anthony trucks, antioch, employee appreciation, end homelessness, gentrification oakland, glassdoor, homeless, homelessness, NFL, oakland homelessness, oakland housing, staff, trucks training

Warriors Suite Tickets Benefit Oakland Homeless

November 14, 2017

BACS is auctioning suite tickets for three Golden State Warriors games, generously donated by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf!

Suite tickets are available for the following games: Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls on 11/24/2017, Warriors vs. LA Lakers on 12/22/17, and Warriors vs. NY Knicks on 1/23/18.

All proceeds from this auction will help to end homelessness in our Oakland community. Winning bids are tax deductible above the fair market rate for tickets. Visit our auction site to bid on your suite and help your community!

[Read more…]

Tagged With: charity auction, donate to nonprofit, golden state warriors, libby schaaf, oakland homelessness, oakland mayor, warriors, warriors game, warriors suite, warriors tickets

Elderly Couple Gets a Happily Ever After

September 20, 2016

Daniel and Gina, 70 and 60 years old respectively, came to BACS in need of serious help. They were homeless, and did not have access to food, medications, or other services. Through the collective efforts of our dedicated teams in three programs, Daniel and Gina are no longer homeless and are receiving the services they need! [Read more…]

Tagged With: bay area community services, oakland homelessness, senior homelessness

Subscribe to Receive BACS News

Sign up to get community news, updates, and ways to get involved delivered to your inbox.

Join Our Email List

BACS Connections Monthly Newsletter

BACS Connections: April 2026

BACS Connections: February 2026

BACS Connections: October 2025

BACS Connections: September 2025

View All Newsletters

Our Site

Site Map

Follow Us

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter:
Join Our Email List

Twitter icon Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon

Get in Touch

Phone: 510.613.0330

Email: bacs@bayareacs.org

Donate

Get Help

BACS is accredited by CARF, an international independent accrediting body, whose focus is on ensuring high-quality services.

© 2026 Bay Area Community Services

Site Design by KenCreative

🎉 Now Open: BACS Housing Resource Centers!

We’re excited to welcome our communities to the new BACS Housing Resource Centers across Alameda County!

Whether you need help preventing homelessness, finding housing resources, accessing Coordinated Entry, connecting to benefits, or navigating community services, our team is here for you. Compassionate support. Personalized guidance. Real solutions.

Visit your local Housing Resource Center today and let us help you take the next step toward housing stability.