Preventing homelessness is one step closer to ending it – so our goal is to keep everyone housed.
Nobody wants to experience homelessness, so BACS is working to prevent homelessness before it starts. California is in the middle of an affordable housing crisis. As our cities and communities grow, residents face rising housing costs and displacement. In 2018, BACS and two other organizations teamed up to pilot the Keep Oakland Housed program. Expanding on the work of the Keep Oakland Housed pilot program, in 2020 BACS expanded to provide rental relief to residents of Emeryville and Hayward impacted by COVID-19. On average, BACS has found it takes less than $2,500 to prevent someone from losing their housing, and preserve that unit of affordable housing – preventing displacement, gentrification, and significant long-term costs to the individual and the system in trying to address their homelessness.
Oakland
Keep Oakland Housed prevents residents from losing their housing through a three-pronged approach: emergency financial assistance, supportive services, and legal representation. KOH is a collaboration between BACS, East Bay Community Law Center, and Catholic Charities of the East Bay, funded through the San Francisco Foundation, Crankstart, Kaiser Permanente, and other generous philanthropists, in partnership with the City of Oakland. Full Keep Oakland Housed guidelines available here.
Emeryville
Emeryville residents may be eligible for rent relief if they:
- have an income less than 100% of the AMI (area median income)
- have documented loss of income related to COVID-19
- are current on rental payments due prior to the Emeryville Eviction Moratorium adopted by the City Council on March 19, 2020
- Full Emeryville tenant relief program guidelines available here.
Full Emeryville tenant relief program guidelines available here.
Hayward
Hayward residents may be eligible for rent relief if they:
- are very low-income (up to 50% AMI) OR are low-income (up to 80% AMI) with a high rent burden (30% or more of income)
- have documented loss of income related to COVID-19
Full Hayward tenant relief program guidelines available here.
We are doing whatever it takes to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the people we serve. We are first responders for thousands of people experiencing mental health crises, housing crises, and other crises.