Jessica Robblee’s story is one of perseverance and hope, despite the odds that were stacked against her.

Born in Eureka, California, Jessica had personal and family challenges early. She began using drugs at the age of 16, had her son when she was 18, and her daughter at 23, moving to Fort Bragg to raise her family. Although she was able to maintain sobriety for a few years, she eventually relapsed, and her partner at the time took her children away. For 10 years, Jessica found herself caught in a cycle of homelessness, substance abuse, and encounters with law enforcement.

BACS got connected to Jessica after she was arrested in 2017, with her case manager Brandy focusing on helping Jessica on her sobriety journey and locating safe housing.

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What makes BACS special – so that more neighbors have housing instead of living on the streets, so that more people get the mental health care they need – is our incredible team. The 430+ people who leave their homes and show up to work everyday to do ‘whatever it takes’ for the community we serve.

“Every day, our staff come into work ready for anything – and they are working against massive odds with community members who are too often ignored. BACS team members are untold first responders, in hospitals and encampments and anywhere else there is a complex crisis. It is my sincere privilege to compensate the team as highly as we value them.” – Jamie Almanza, CEO

It is because of this that BACS took a major leap – and created a new “BACS minimum wage” – a living wage that complements our extremely comprehensive benefits package.  The new wage significantly raises all current staff dramatically – in most cases by 30%.

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Individual needs when BACS was founded in 1953 – like help with housing or mental health care – have become community crises today. Healthcare and housing are systemically hard to access, and we see the results on our streets every day.

BACS stays on the front lines – responding to new needs as they emerge – piloting innovating solutions to change – and combining 70 years of wisdom with the most modern data tools to make your donation go as far as possible and do the most good.

By donating to BACS, you invest in local solutions to local challenges.

See success stories from this year – and help make them possible for the thousands of people BACS will help in 2023.

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The NET Growth Movement is helping former foster youth transition into adulthood with the financial stability, personal strength, and community backing they need to thrive. Designed and founded by adults with experience in Alameda County foster care, powered by BACS, the NET Growth Movement provides a guaranteed income pilot ($1,000 per month for up to 24 months), a plethora of supports, and community-resource building. This is the first program of its kind in Alameda County, and the initial cohort is expected to start January 2023.

The NET Growth Movement pilot is premised in addressing the stark challenges that former foster youth face once they reach transition age, at which time traditional systemic support dissipates. 25% of Alameda County transition-aged youth will experience homelessness before the age of 24, while 50% of this population are unemployed by the same age. In addition, nearly 20% of Alameda County residents currently experiencing homelessness were previously involved with the foster care system (2022 Alameda County Homeless Point in Time count). And as a result of financial barriers, emotional traumas, and foster system involvement, the majority of former foster youth live in a constant state of survival, struggling to obtain basic needs without financial or familial support.

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The data confirms – BACS is reducing Hayward homelessness.

The Point-in-Time Count carried out across the Bay Area on Feb. 23 found 381 people experiencing homelessness in Hayward — with 114 of these individuals unsheltered—figures that were DOWN 22% and 28% respectively from the last Point-in-Time Count in January 2019.