BACS Celebrates Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, BACS is paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled against oppression to achieve freedom, citizenship, and equality.

Across our 18+ program sites, we hosted discussions, workshops, and art classes to reflect on our history, and to come together for the work that still needs to be done. Last year, 48% of the people who came to BACS for help identified as Black/African American. They struggled disproportionately with homelessness, with poverty, and with the lasting impacts of criminal justice. We continue to strive for equality, and honor the millions of people who came before us to create the progress achieved so far.

The Tia Family Gives Back

BACS Manager Gary Tia and his family warmed our hearts while helping our clients stay warm this month! The drenching rain has been particularly hard on our homeless community members, especially those recovering from injuries and hospital stays.

Gary and his family surprised our Medical Respite team and clients with home-made, warm, cozy blankets. Everyone is thrilled, thankful and warm.

BACS’ Program Anniversaries

This February, BACS is celebrating program anniversaries for several of our community programs! Woodroe Place opened in 1996, and provides short-term residential services for individuals in active psychiatric distress, in a welcoming and open environment. BACS also celebrates our re-entry program FREE, which opened in Alameda County in 2016, providing care coordination for people living with severe mental health issues who are re-entering the community from jail/prison. BACS is celebrating our SAGE program, which opened in 2016 and provides coordination services for people with mental health challenges who need assistance to obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through legal advocacy.

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

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.