Anna’s House Ushers in Hope for Homeless Mothers and Children

In the heart of East Oakland, the doors of Anna’s House swung wide open this month – a beautiful, unique home for single mothers and children battling homelessness. Anna’s House, BACS’ newest interim housing site, will provide safe, stable housing for single mothers and their children in Oakland – the model is for families to stay the time they need while BACS and its partners wrap around them to get them to their next step – finding and moving in to permanent housing!

Anna’s House is not just a shelter; it is a testament to resilience and community support. Named after Anna, a mother, sister, daughter, and friend who tragically lost her life after years of struggling with trauma resulting from sexual partner violence, Anna’s House stands as a tribute to her memory. Situated on a residential street in East Oakland, Anna’s House occupies nearly 1,390 square feet of house with a spacious backyard. The home is designed to accommodate up to three suites, each featuring bedrooms and all other amenities.

The gathered community commemorated Anna, honoring and remembering her resilience and compassion. Aurora, Anna’s child, and Jackie Downing, Anna’s childhood friend and a major fundraiser/advocate for Anna’s House, spoke to share Anna’s story of strength and the importance of mental health services. Together with BACS CEO Jamie Almanza, they cut the ribbon, officially opening the home in Anna’s name. Ms. Almanza was steadfast in her commitment and demand for this model to replicate rapidly and judiciously – as BACS has added over 50 single family homes to its portfolio in the last five years.  The single family home model is the most efficient way to quickly bring housing online to our impacted system. With continued support and fundraising efforts, Anna’s House is poised to become a cornerstone in the community, offering stability, healing, and hope to those who need it most.

Learn more on our website and see coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Affordable Housing at BACS’ Piedmont Place

While affordable housing is an ongoing challenge in Oakland, BACS was proud to be the first stop on the Affordable Housing Tour led by Oakland Housing and Community Development and EBHO! We were joined by our partners at the Oakland Mayor’s and City Administrator’s Offices, Oakland Housing Authority, MPI, the Oakland Council District 1 and 7 offices, and more for a tour of BACS’ Piedmont Place and other affordable housing options.

BACS is doing whatever it takes to develop affordable, sustainable housing options that help people get out of homelessness and stay in their home community. If you want to contribute to this effort, please make a gift today!

Celebrating 70 Years of BACS Impact

In December, BACS closed our celebrations of 70 years of doing “whatever it takes” to uplift our community, looking forward to the next 70 years of service.

We extend our sincerest thanks to Supervisor Keith Carson for its proclamation commemorating BACS’ 70 years and all the dedicated elected officials who took the time to join us in commemorating this significant milestone

Our event was more than a celebration of 70 years; it was an acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of our incredible staff over the past year. Our gathering was also an opportunity to express profound appreciation for the outstanding leadership and tireless dedication that our public officials bring to our community. Often, their efforts go unnoticed, but their impact is immeasurable.

Prabhakar Family Does Whatever It Takes

Uplifting Stories from BACS

Donna* was referred to BACS in June of 2022. For several months, we were unable to locate her/engage her in services because she was experiencing significant symptoms and barriers including disorganization, mania, psychosis, and homelessness. In January of 2023, BACS located her during an emergency psychiatric hospitalization, made contact, and began to establish rapport. We supported a “step-down” to BACS’ Woodroe Place Crisis Residential Treatment Center, where our team continued to get to know her and finally opened her to services. Since connecting to BACS services, Donna* has obtained housing, applied for benefits, expressed an interest in substance abuse treatment, and continued to be an active member of the Towne House Wellness Center community.

These are the kinds of community members we help every single day at BACS.

*Name and photo changed for confidentiality purposes

Santa Visits SHARE Center

Thank you to Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig, the Salinas Fire Department, and many donors (led by Comcast), Santa visited the SHARE Center this Christmas! Donors helped us put together special gift backpacks for each child at the SHARE Center – and the adults got gifts too! Most people experiencing homelessness do not have the luxury of celebrating holidays, so it brought true joy to all at the SHARE Center to have such a wonderful community event. Thank you to all who made this possible, and see us on the news on KION!

Empowering Women: A Day of Learning and Growth

In a world where women are breaking barriers and redefining their roles, empowerment and community are vital. BACS North County recently hosted a Women’s Wellness Workshop to bring together people identifying as women for a day of self-improvement and self-empowerment. From financial planning to therapeutic art, it had something for everyone.

BACS North County extends its gratitude to all who attended. A special shoutout to Deneisha Clemons from House of Loving Hands for sharing her inspiring journey. We’d also like to thank Project Glimmer for their generous donation of hygiene and makeup items, included in the goodie bags, adding to the sense of empowerment.

The Women’s Wellness Workshop wasn’t just a day of empowerment—it equipped women with tools and knowledge to continue their journey towards personal power.

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