BACS Connections September/October 2019

October 17, 2019

Caring Community Member & Foundation Leader Leans in Further to End Homelessness

Jackie Downing, a major BACS supporter and advocate, used her recent milestone birthday as a fundraiser towards an incredible goal – to buy a trailer (not the driving kind but the kind that will be parked in a permanent residence with a lease) for a family struggling with homelessness! Jackie has a strong and vocal community, who so quickly surpassed the goal that BACS was able to buy and renovate two stationary trailers!

As BACS knows, ending homelessness requires opening ourselves up to all kinds of permanent solutions – BACS does not buy mobile homes/RVs for clients because that lends to increasing homelessness – BACS only supports homes that can be parked permanently at a residence with a legal lease in hand. In fact, BACS is starting a ‘trailer-buy-back’ program where we can pay an unstably housed resident money for their trailer, help them gain permanent housing, and then repurpose the trailer on a permanent piece of property for someone that is living outside/on the streets.

Jackie says, “Housing is the solution to homelessness and I believe we can solve this crisis if we all do whatever is in our power… This trailer will serve as a stable form of housing as BACS helps their clients get back on their feet and secure even more permanent homes.”

Everyone at BACS is sending a huge shout-out to all of the 20+ people who donated to get two families off the streets before winter begins, and to Jackie, for mobilizing the community for such an impactful birthday gift!

Amber House Grand Opening

We were thrilled to welcome our elected officials, supporters, neighbors, and community partners to celebrate the grand opening of Amber House Crisis Center! Many thanks to Karyn Tribble, John Steinfirst, and Councilmember McElhaney for being our guests of honor and speakers, and the offices of Supervisor Carson and Supervisor Chan, as well as the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA).

Amber House is a short-term residential alternative to psychiatric hospitalization, or support following hospitalization, for individuals in active psychiatric distress who need support to cope and heal. Amber House is embedded in the community, and speeds up recovery while creating a long-term plan for wellness.

Expanded Full Service Partnerships Serve Record Numbers

The original ‘whatever it takes’ program, BACS’ Full Service Partnerships (FSPs) are celebrating a great year following our expansion in 2018! FSPs support individuals in every aspect of their life, breaking mental health, housing, and community barriers that hold people back.

BACS’ FSPs were expanded to include teens, people experiencing chronic homelessness, older adults, and people re-entering the community from prison/jail – all of our community members who need the most assistance. In the last year, our FSPs helped more than 335 people!

Oakland Community Block Party

BACS had a great time at the 4th Annual Oakland Community Block Party at Verdese Carter (Sunnyside) Park! Organized by Alameda County Public Defender Brendon D. Woods and County Supervisor Nate Miley, the block party had food, clothing, and bike giveaways, health screenings & public health information, voter registrations, criminal records repair services, a DJ, face painting, and more. It was a beautiful day out in the Oakland community.

Celebrating Long-Term Successes

This month, BACS is celebrating the 2 year anniversary of our Housing Navigation programs, a major expansion to BACS’ housing & homeless solutions work. Our Housing Resource Center, Housing Education & Counseling, and Landlord Liaison programs opened in 2017, and work with the people who need the most support. Learn more about BACS’ Housing Navigation here.

BACS is also celebrating the 5 year anniversary of the Hope Intervention Program (HIP), a prevention and early intervention program for youth, which opened in 2014. Learn more about our Prevention & Early Intervention programs here.

To all of our staff and partners who make these programs possible, happy anniversary, and congratulations on all your hard work!

Employee of the Month

This month, Brianna Gabriel is the Whatever It Takes award winner, with our Re-Entry team! Brianna’s colleagues nominated her, saying that “countless clients reach out to team members to sing her praises, and she receives thank yous and updates from clients long after they’ve graduated from BACS programs.” Brianna says BACS’ work matters because “we provide a tangible opportunity that helps our partners to re-connect, re-focus and re-claim their lives. We as an agency and individually have the ability to empower our partners in creating a plan to alleviate certain obstacles and barriers, and to help them re-define hopelessness into hope and dream deferred into a beautiful reality.”

Congratulations Brianna, and thank you for everything you do for the BACS team!

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.

BACS Connections January 2019

January 28, 2019

The Holland, Oakland’s Newest Program to End Homelessness, Opens!

BACS is thrilled to announce the opening of ‘The Holland’ in January, which replicates our very successful Housing Fast Support Network program at the Henry Robinson Center! This is the next and continuing step in BACS’ goal to eradicate homelessness.

At ‘The Holland’, we are providing short-term housing and supportive services (to connect people with job supports, benefits, food, and more), while our expert Housing Navigators help locate permanent housing.

BACS thanks the City of Oakland, Kaiser Permanente, the Anthem Foundation, and the citizens of Oakland, for making this possible. Anthem Blue Cross Foundation is making it possible to provide every resident with a warm, healthy, filling meal every day in 2019.You can read our story, or check out the East Bay Times announcement.

Next Supper

In 2011, Kenneth Prabhakar and his brother Kevin, who were only 9 and 13 years old, saw the impacts of homelessness during a school trip. They immediately formed Next Supper, dedicated to helping homeless community members. Every year, all year, they collect empty bottles and cans, bring them to the recycling center, and save the funds. In 2018, Kenneth raised more than ever – nearly $3,000!

Many of our participants have not had new clothing since they became homeless, and often experience the winter unprepared. This year Kenneth purchased jackets, gloves, socks, warm pants. BACS is inspired by Kenneth and the Prabhakar family, and very grateful for their continued support! Check out the full heartwarming story here.

‘A House a Year’ to End Homelessness

BACS meets Strategic Plan Goal and Buys a ‘House a Year’ to end homelessness! At the end of 2018, BACS purchased the newest addition to our Supported Independent Living program! BACS thanks our donor community, who helped us pay the down payment.

The house, which is located in East Oakland, will provide permanent housing for six people who are struggling with behavioral health issues and independent living, who would otherwise fall into homelessness. This house was dedicated on January 7, 2019, as the Williams House, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of BACS team member Richard Williams.

This was one of the major promises of our 2018-2020 Strategic Plan, and we are so glad to keep progressing in our goal to end homelessness, permanently.

Housing Fast Support Network Celebrates 5 Year Anniversary

BACS is pleased to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of BACS’ Housing Fast Support Network (HFSN) program at the Henry Robinson Center!

BACS’ HFSN program is the most effective, innovative program of its kind to end homelessness in the Bay Area. Each year, we help 300 people move off the streets and into our rapid re-housing site. Last year, 88% of our participants moved into permanent housing.

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!

Employee of the Month

BACS is delighted to announce that January’s winner is Shawn Moore of the Intensive Case Management team! Shawn says “BACS’ work matters a great deal. The unique approach is very effective. Other agencies use a text book approach and do not address the heart of the problem. We assist clients with obtaining housing, employment, food, and psychiatry. In addition, we advocate for our clients, educate, and model independent living skills.”

Congratulations, Shawn, and thank you for all you do on the BACS team!

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.

Teen Makes Incredible Gift to Homeless Community Members!

December 20, 2018

In 2011, Kenneth Prabhakar and his brother Kevin, who were only 9 and 13 years old, saw the impacts of homelessness during a school trip. They immediately formed Next Supper, dedicated to helping homeless community members. Every year, all year, 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.

In 2014, the Prabhakar family partnered with BACS and donated these items for us to distribute. Today, Kevin is in college, and Kenneth has kept up the initiative. Through his church community, family connections, extended social networks, and supporters of Next Supper, Kenneth raised more than ever – nearly $3,000!

Many of our participants have not had new clothing since they became homeless, and often experience the winter unprepared. This year Kenneth purchased jackets, gloves, socks, warm pants. Furthermore, Kenneth made an inspiring personal sacrifice, donating money he earned from tutoring, to get 25 fleece blankets! His parents, Joseph and Padmini, matched his donation.

[Read more…]

BACS Connections September 2017

September 25, 2017

Mayor Schaaf Visits BACS

BACS is expanding our partnership with the City of Oakland! Mayor Libby Schaaf stopped by to tour our Housing Fast Support Network (HFSN), the largest program to end homelessness in Oakland. She also announced, during a KTVU panel, our newest program, the Housing Resource Center program. Over the next few months, BACS is opening more housing programs with the City, which will target developing new housing to impact the housing crisis immediately.

You can learn more here, or if you have a room to rent in Oakland and want to make a difference, click here.

BACS Seeks Construction Manager

BACS is seeking an experienced, qualified construction manager for our Amber House facility in Oakland, California. We are currently partnering with Alameda County to remodel this facility, which has been and will continue to be a residential treatment facility. To find out more, read our full posting here.

BACS Pride

BACS had a great time at Oakland Pride this year, representing our community! We were out and proud, and got to get our information to people in need. We also got to connect with some new volunteers, and were visited by a participant’s family member who shared her story about BACS’ impact on her mother.

BACS is doing whatever it takes to make a difference, and everyone is welcome at BACS.

UPS Job Fair

In August, UPS hosted a job fair at BACS! The idea started when Antonio Montesinos, BACS Employment Coordinator in Downtown Oakland, helped a participant get a job at UPS. That participant, through his hard work, got promoted to Supervisor. He decided to give back by helping BACS and UPS organize this job fair, giving opportunities to people who need work. The job fair was a huge success – 15 people were hired, in one day! Thank you to UPS, to Antonio, and to the hard-working participant who keeps his community in mind, and congratulations to all those who have new jobs.

IPS Report

BACS’ IPS Supported Employment Program provides job placement services to help individuals with complex needs find competitive, satisfying, and sustainable employment to uplift them from poverty.

BACS recently received our IPS Fidelity Report, and BACS received 113 out of 125 possible points, which the report notes is “the highest fidelity IPS program in Alameda County.” According to the report, “BACS staff, participants, and family members spoke highly of the IPS services,” saying things like “It’s an awesome program.” Furthermore, CARF visited recently, and had zero recommendations for the IPS program. Our team is proud of the work they are doing! You can read our full announcement here.

Successes at BACS

Debra was born in New Orleans, but she has been living in the Bay Area since she was 5 years old. Debra loves Oakland, but when she became a single mother, she and her two children struggled. Eventually, Debra was struggling to make rent, and came home to an eviction notice. Without a rental agreement, she ended up living on the streets – first Arroyo Park, and eventually in a shelter. But then, Debra came to BACS for help. Debra recently moved into permanent housing, and she is thrilled. Debra says “I wanted to prove to myself that I could get back on my feet, that I could be happy. It’s because of BACS that I made it today. They blessed me with my apartment. I’m happy, and I’m glad I succeeded. All my life I never succeeded, but now I have. I graduated from BACS. Now I’m just trying to make it. I am recovering from surgery in my home, instead of on the streets.”

Employee of the Month

BACS is delighted to honor Kara Tow, with BACS’ Intensive Case Management program, as our Employee of the Month for August! Kara says “The work that we do at BACS is so important because we provide direct assistance, advocate for people’s voices to be heard, and model treatment with the dignity that all deserve to break down stigmas and barriers so that people can remain connected to the larger whole. Connection heals trauma, not isolation.” Congratulations, Kara!

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes?

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612. Make an ongoing impact by donating monthly!

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities. Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

Planned Giving

Many people leave a charitable gift in their will. Do you want to make a lifetime of impact in the community you care about? Email us to learn more!

BACS Connections January 2016

January 21, 2016

Uplifting News: Program Graduation

Congratulations to Shirley, a North County Senior Homeless Program participant who worked with us for six years on finding permanent housing. She’s an Alameda native and struggled with street homelessness and all its challenges prior to coming into the program.

BACS supported her with finding permanent housing – in Alameda! – and in strengthening her connection to her family. Shirley is fiery, tenacious, and creative. She decorated the hat you see her wearing herself. Our BACS team took Shirley, her daughter, grandchildren, and sister-in-law out to lunch at Pasta Pelican to celebrate Shirley’s successes.

Welcome to Chief Administrative Officer

We are delighted to announce our new Chief Administrative Officer, Courtney Jones!

Prior to joining BACS she worked for On Lok Lifeways and Alameda Alliance for Health. While at On Lok she assisted the organization in diversifying their funds and implemented a new PACE provider in San Francisco. Courtney spent many years at Alameda Alliance where she began in the mailroom and ended her career there in a senior management position.

Courtney is an Oakland native who is extremely passionate about her community which led her to BACS. She believes in the mission of BACS and can see the work that they have done in the community. Courtney is married with two children and enjoys being creative. Her favorite pastimes include thrift shopping, spending time with her family, sewing, painting and playing tennis.

Celebrating Employment

PSC Luigi K Reads Employment Success Stories

On December 17th, 2015, the Alameda County Vocational Program hosted the 5th Annual Employment Celebration event along with BACS, the Pool of Consumer Champions, Fred Finch Youth Center, and Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS).

Over 100 consumers, family members, and providers gathered to honor and recognize program participants’ employment success over the past year.

Two participants from the BACS Supported Employment Program shared their own personal stories around work and recovery.

Congratulations to participants across Alameda who have had successes with Employment in the last year!

Emergency Shelter Ordinance

Oakland’s City Council passed a “shelter crisis” ordinance to ease restrictions on housing for the homeless population in Oakland.

Declaring a crisis suspends several rules and regulations considering housing health, and safety, to create easier access to shelter. There are currently only 30% of the shelter beds necessary to get the homeless population of Oakland out of the El Nino rain.

Lucy Kasdin, Director of Programs at BACS, says “BACS is committed to engaging policy makers and our community to find solutions to end homelessness.” We look forward to a continued partnership with the community and government of Oakland.

New Partnership with CAMFT

BACS is happy to announce a partnership with the East Bay Chapter of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists). East Bay CAMFT is a diverse local community of professionals who seek to further the profession. EBCAMFT serves the community by providing resources attuned to the broad range of needs that comprise the membership, including Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, Interns, Trainees, LCSWs, ASWs and Associates.

East Bay CAMFT is holding their monthly Board Meetings at Towne House Wellness Center and will draw on the resources within the Chapter to provide training opportunities for staff and increased visibility for BACS with the therapeutic community throughout the state. Caiti Crum, Program Manager for Case Management Programs and Towne House Wellness Center is the East Bay CAMFT President. To learn more about East Bay CAMFT, please visit: www.eastbaytherapist.org.

New Address Reminder

BACS would like to remind you that we have moved headquarters, into an existing program space that BACS already owns! This move brings a huge potential for savings, which will go towards a longer term vision of continued program expansion.

Come visit our new headquarters, at existing Towne House Wellness Center, at 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94611. Our phone number remains the same: 510.613.0330.

Join Our Cause

Do you want to join BACS in our mission to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes? The community has asked us to provide more services than ever, based on need. In 2016, help us make this possible!

Donate

Donate to BACS online by clicking here, or via mail to 629 Oakland Ave, Oakland, CA 94612.

Or, donate gently used blankets, canned goods, and other items to our housing programs. Email us to learn more.

Work Here

BACS services are always expanding, and we are currently recruiting! Check out our job opportunities.

Learn more on our website or by calling 510.613.0330.

BACS Connections September/October 2019

Caring Community Member & Foundation Leader Leans in Further to End Homelessness

Amber House Grand Opening

Expanded Full Service Partnerships Serve Record Numbers

Oakland Community Block Party

Celebrating Long-Term Successes

Employee of the Month

Start a Career with BACS

BACS Connections January 2019

The Holland, Oakland’s Newest Program to End Homelessness, Opens!

Next Supper

‘A House a Year’ to End Homelessness

Housing Fast Support Network Celebrates 5 Year Anniversary

Employee of the Month

Invest in Your Community

Teen Makes Incredible Gift to Homeless Community Members!

BACS Connections September 2017

Mayor Schaaf Visits BACS

BACS Seeks Construction Manager

BACS Pride

UPS Job Fair

IPS Report

Successes at BACS

Employee of the Month

Join Our Cause

BACS Connections January 2016

Uplifting News: Program Graduation

Welcome to Chief Administrative Officer

Celebrating Employment

Emergency Shelter Ordinance

New Partnership with CAMFT

New Address Reminder

Join Our Cause

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Follow Us

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