Marvin McKinnely developed many relationships while serving his nearly five-decade sentence in Deuel Vocational Institution, which is located in Tracy, California. While in custody, Mr. McKinnely developed close bonds with several of the inmates and from these relationships, there were … Continued
For the past two years, Californians for Safety and Justice, a statewide criminal justice reform organization, brought together experts in the fields of criminal justice, social justice, and community economic development to conduct research on the experiences of people with … Continued
October 26, 2018, Oakland, CA – On a warm Friday evening at the First Unitarian Church in downtown Oakland, parents, children, and other family members gathered to celebrate loved ones who were graduating from a very special program, entering the … Continued
On Wednesday, September 26th members of the Resident Leadership Council for East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) gathered at Jack London Gateway Senior Housing to learn about the root causes of the housing crisis and how to be part of the … Continued
With funding from the City of Berkeley, 58 lockers are available for homeless individuals at BOSS’s Multi-Agency Service Center (MASC) program at 1931 Center Street in downtown Berkeley. Lockers are available on a first come-first served basis. To sign up, … Continued
Below are housing-related ballot issues that are relevant to BOSS’s work of helping people overcome homelessness and rebuild their lives. However you choose to vote on these and other ballot initiatives, please make your voice heard and exercise your hard-won right … Continued
The BOSS Career Training and Employment Center (CTEC) provides education, training, and comprehensive employment assistance to individuals looking for work but face high barriers like former incarceration, criminal justice involvement, homelessness, or disabilities. CTEC has many wonderful community partners who provide … Continued
Shared from Housing California: The governor signed the Homeless Youth Act of 2018 (SB 918, Wiener) into law last week, giving direction and funding to the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to set measurable goals to prevent and end youth homelessness. … Continued
On Tuesday September 25th, BOSS and dozens of community partners held a special Get Out The Vote Rally in front of Oakland City Hall from 11 am-2 pm, in an effort to register people to vote, provide voter rights … Continued
Class project turns into special donation for BOSS housing! “As part of the “Global Startup” class at UC Berkeley, taught by Ken Singer, students had a week to trade items (with strangers) and the team who ended with the most … Continued
Under the leadership of Desmond Iman, the new Teacher at the Children’s Learning Center (CLC), the homeless children who participate in BOSS’s after-school program on-site at Ursula Sherman Village have been taking part in exciting STEM activities this summer, in … Continued
Visionaries Documentary – Nearly There! BOSS has raised approximately $35,000 for the production budget for a documentary that will be aired nationally on PBS as part of the PBS documentary series, The Visionaries — we are talking with the filmmakers right now … Continued
BERKELEY, CA – On a warm evening in downtown Berkeley, with the strains of jazz played by Berkeley High School musicians coming from the Crystal Ballroom at Hotel Shattuck Plaza, BOSS gathered with sponsors and supporters, elected officials, volunteers and … Continued
BOSS is watching a series of important bills that affect the individuals and families we serve. Please read through and let your elected officials know if you support them! — The Veterans and Affordable Housing Act (SB 3) will go before … Continued
BOSS staff are active participants in local, regional and state forums that are seeking solutions to homelessness, poverty, and reentry challenges. Some of our recent or upcoming participation includes: Homelessness Solutions Summit 2018 The next 10 years in Alameda County, job growth is expected … Continued
The BOSS Board of Directors is having a weekly auction of one special item up for bid each week – all funds raised will benefit the BOSS Visionaries documentary film project, to help share BOSS’s work fighting mass homelessness, mass incarceration, … Continued
Sacramento, CA – On Monday March 19, 2018, BOSS staff members Gwen Austin and Sonja Fitz, along with UC Berkeley intern Kira Shea and BOSS participant (Casa Maria resident) Tenille Spruell, loaded into a van and headed for the state … Continued
Darnell Oliver is a 57 year old who had been sleeping in his car on the streets of Oakland, his home community, since 2016. In 2017 when he was staying in the winter shelter at St. Vincent de Paul, he … Continued
Hayward, CA – Despite a one week postponement due to rain, a group of high energy, hard working, good spirited volunteers from the co-ed service fraternity at Cal State East Bay, Alpha Phi Omega – Omicron Zeta Chapter, came out … Continued
The Administration recently released their proposed 2019 budget (despite still not having a 2018 budget). This proposed budget will deny Section 8 Housing Vouchers, already a barely-available resource, with 5+ year wait lists, to a quarter of a million current recipients. Most … Continued