In 1953, a group of Oakland churches and advocates came together to create the first organization of its kind in the Bay Area, founded to respond to the growing needs of elders and people with mental health issues. As the agency grew in size and expertise, we focused on the connections between mental health and lack of available affordable housing. By 1965, Bay Area Community Services (BACS) was targeting rising homelessness around our community.

Today, BACS’ mission is to uplift individuals, families, and communities by doing “whatever it takes.”

For decades, BACS has steadily grown throughout California to meet the rising needs of communities. As an historical agency with comprehensive expertise in behavioral health & housing solutions, it is our founding commitment to do “whatever it takes” to meet the needs of our community. We are determined to growing ethically, hiring locally & hiring people with lived experience, and bringing person-centered care to every community where we work.

BACS provides innovative behavioral health and housing services for teens, adults, older adults, and their families across the Bay Area. We envision strong neighborhoods where everyone is healthy and has an abundance of resources, meaningful relationships, and a place they call home. Every year, BACS makes a difference in the lives of more than 14,500 people.

Our Philosophy

Housing First | Trauma-Informed | Harm Reduction | Work First

BACS breaks the mental health, housing, and community barriers that hold people back. We are helping people experiencing mental health needs or housing crises, while balancing other complications like health needs, substance use, generational trauma, incarceration, poverty, and more. Each person we work with gets focused attention on their unique needs, until they are stable in the community. We fight against stigma and work tirelessly to uplift each individual we serve.