Annual Report 2018-2019

Throughout the year, we share unique stories, program updates, and highlight the great work our staff is doing. Now, BACS’ Annual Report is available online – and we can share the big picture!

BACS’ CEO Jamie Almanza says, “In this report, you will see why BACS is growing – because we have decided that no problem is beyond solving, no person is beyond helping, and that we are going to break down the barriers of stigma, racism, fear, or anything else that gets in the way of our community being able to thrive.”

San Mateo Program Opening

Have you ever had to recover from a major physical injury or illness? Can you imagine trying to get better while living on the streets?

That is where our new Recuperative Care program comes in. This pilot program will help homeless and housing insecure community members who have been hospitalized for a physical illness or injury, promoting long-term health and wellness.

People in need will have access to short-term residential support as they heal, care coordination, nursing support, mental health support, and more. This is our first program supporting San Mateo, and we are thrilled to be working with San Mateo County Health, Health Plan San Mateo, and the County of San Mateo.

Housing Navigation FAQ

BACS has many programs around the Bay Area committed to addressing homelessness. This work is always tied to community needs, and our advocates and supporters have helped us reach new communities in need. We address stigma and misunderstanding – which act as barriers to programs working to help – through transparency and sharing information. This month, we are sharing FAQs about our housing navigation program in Berkeley, the STAIR Center!

Kids Bike Lane: Breaking the Cycle

Bikes make life easier for people experiencing homelessness – with a bike, you have a free way of getting to and from services, job opportunities, and housing opportunities. Kids Bike Lane partnered with BACS, for the second year running, to donate bikes and provide that opportunity!

As part of their annual Big Bike Build, Kids Bike Lane donated 26 bikes to BACS clients who are in our housing fast programs. This is a huge deal for people living with behavioral health issues & exiting homelessness, to have that self-reliance of being on a bicycle, sustaining themselves through work, and contributing to the community… it has been a true blessing for every single person who received a bike. BACS cannot thank Kids Bike Lane enough!

Expert Volunteers Support BACS’ Leadership Development Series

Last month, two senior Genentech staff volunteered at BACS to uplift our leadership team! Tanja Powers, VP of Opthamology at Genentech, and Toni Pegues, Principal Manager of Field Excellence at Genentech, hosted a training session on leadership best practices, supporting staff, and holding courageous conversations.

Tanja volunteered in 2019 for the first in this series, and Toni brought her tremendous expertise in leadership development, plus her 20+ years of diverse experience (including sales & sales training management, marketing, project/vendor management, and more) to support our leadership team. Thank you, Toni and Tanja, and Genentech for sparing them for the day!

Ruby Turns 102 at BACS Adult Day Center

Ruby Lewis, a regular participant at BACS’ Oakland Adult Day Center, is celebrating her 102nd birthday! Ms. Ruby was born in Panama and moved to San Francisco in her 20s. Ms. Ruby was a nurse at Kaiser Permanente for decades, then continued nursing work as a volunteer after her retirement. Ms. Ruby stays active, and is very craft-oriented. Her daughter says “you will not see her without a knitting needle in her hand.” If she’s not knitting, she is doing crossword puzzles. We are so glad to celebrate this birthday with Ms. Ruby, and to help her stay active and engaged in the community!

Teen Does Whatever It Takes to Make Winter Better

When Kenneth Prabhakar and his brother Kevin became determined to help people experiencing homelessness, they were only 9 and 13 years old.

Year-round, every year, they they collect empty bottles and cans, bring them to the recycling center, and save the funds. Near the holidays, during the cold and wet season, they pool this money to buy brand new clothing for people experiencing homelessness.

BACS is inspired by Kenneth and the Prabhakar family, and very grateful for their continued support! Check out the full heartwarming story here.

Harborside Health Center

BACS is sending a major shout-out to Harborside Health Center and all of their clients & patients, who held a holiday fund drive to help our homeless community members! Harborside donated a percentage of their profits to BACS, and raised nearly $2,000. Thank you, Harborside, for making the holidays brighter for our clients experiencing homelessness!

HFSN anniversary

BACS is pleased to celebrate the 6 year anniversary of BACS’ Housing Fast Support Network (HFSN) program at the Henry Robinson Center!

We move people directly from the streets into the Henry, where they live for 4-6 months while our Housing Specialists work on permanent housing solutions. During this time, we help participants establish benefits, find employment, develop life skills, and more. 

Congratulations to the HFSN team and to each person who has successfully moved from the streets to permanent housing, and thank you to all our of community supporters!