User:Wikiforboss/sandbox

What is BOSS?
Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) is a non profit organization that provides comprehensive services to help homeless families and individuals move from homelessness to homes ~ with improved skills and knowledge of resources so they can stay healthy and housed.

First established in 1971 in response to the closure of mental health hospitals which put many mentally ill men and women onto the streets, today BOSS serves over 1,500 homeless families and individuals with multiple barriers to self-sufficiency. BOSS works through a network of housing and service programs in Berkeley, Oakland, and Hayward. The organization is led by a community board of directors, and managed by an executive director and team of excellent managers -- each bringing expertise in the four strategies of housing, health, economic development, and social justice A trained unionized workforce is at the core of all work in BOSS, and many volunteers and community partnerships enhance the response to end homelessness that BOSS is well known for. BOSS is funded by both public and private sources.

Mission & History
The mission of BOSS is to help homeless, poor, and disabled people achieve health and self-sufficiency, and to fight against the root causes of poverty and homelessness. The organization was founded in 1971 by a group of volunteers who responded to the needs of mentally ill individuals being released to the streets by state hospital closures.

Over the years as this crisis was compounded by others—sharply reduced federal housing funds, failing schools, unaffordable health care, a shrinking tax base to support locally needed housing and services, and more—the number of homeless people exploded throughout our communities. During the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, BOSS has continually added new programs in response to changing needs: shelters, transitional houses, education and employment programs, family and child development services, health and mental health care programs, leadership development and organizing initiatives, and more.

Today BOSS is an award-winning grassroots organization that combines neighborhood-based housing and assistance programs with a strong social justice focus—actively working to change the root causes of homelessness through community education, sharing our data and lessons with policy makers, participating in community planning, and organizing for improved policies and resources for homeless people.

Who BOSS Serves
BOSS serves all homeless people—families, individuals, people with disabilities, people overcoming substance abuse, veterans, seniors, working people, survivors of domestic violence, people with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. Our participants are very diverse—all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, sexual preference, disability, and life experience. What they share is very low incomes and a lack of access to resources.

BOSS believes that all people are capable of transforming their lives with the right kind of resources and support. BOSS sees it every day: the homeless mother with children who is escaping domestic violence, going back to school, and building a new life; the mentally ill individual who has gone in and out of hospitals for years finds a supportive community that motivates them to stabilize their health and housing; the person overcoming substance abuse who finds new strength inside and new hope from having their own home.

Participants
BOSS serves over 1,500 new families and individuals every year, each of whom have unique personal stories, with the shared experience of poverty and homelessness. The participants go on to become teachers, professionals, laborers, administrative staff, service employees, students, and fellow social workers, inspired to give back the same support their received. They work, study, heal, grow, care for their families, and contribute to the community and economy all around us.

Many of them become inspired by BOSS’s social justice commitment, and elect to take part in the Community Organizing Team (COT)—the arm of BOSS that is dedicated to leadership development and issue organizing.

Few of the People BOSS Served

 * Lisa had been in BOSS for three years, and had been hospitalized three times in one last year for depression. “I was really a mess,” she says. For the first time, she could not ignore her depression, but did not know how to deal with it. While in BOSS, she was encouraged to attend the many classes available, but avoided engaging in services. Over time, however, the help did seep through—she got housing, started going to school, and worked part-time. She thanks BOSS staff who were “patient, supportive, and excruciatingly kind.”


 * Glenn K had been in and out of Ursula Sherman Village for two years due to moving into an unhealthy living arrangement and then a transitional house closing down. He has had 5 major heart attacks and three open heart surgeries. Due to his substance abuse he lost connection with his children. While in BOSS he found hope again, and secured subsidized housing. He took on a role within the Village community as a Facility Captain, helping to maintain the property at the Village. He tended to his physical health needs, following through with medical appointments that he was previously ignoring. He joined a local gym and decided to finally quit smoking. He made to visit with his children, and thanked staff and his peer community for their support.


 * Kathy worked at Cal State Hayward for eight years, and being laid off came out of the blue. She assumed finding another job would be easy, but it was not. Eventually her unemployment insurance ran out, and she started drinking too much in frustration. She lived in a car, on the streets, and occasionally in jail. She ended up at BOSS’s daytime drop-in center and got SSI but was still drinking. She worked to get clean, but kept relapsing. After more time in shelters, back on the streets, and in and out of John George hospital, she now has a Representative Payee at BOSS, which she likes because it gives her someone to check in with on a regular basis. She has maintained sobriety and has her own room in a board & care program. She enjoys having her own key, her own bed, her own TV—though it took getting used to.

Methodology/Approach
The core methodology for all BOSS programs is the Wellness & Empowerment Curriculum. Based on BOSS’s 38 years of experience serving the homeless and mentally ill, it is designed to create maximum wellness and self-sufficiency for people with mental illness and other disabilities.

Wellness & Empowerment employs a series of hands-on skill-building workshops, peer support groups, and case management that honors the skills that have allowed people to survive massive challenges, helping them develop new skills better suited for independent living. The highly respectful approach includes a Participatory Agreement signed by both participants and staff, with clear expectations for each.

Principles of Wellness & Empowerment
Grow Through Dignity of Risk
 * Risking, taking responsibility for, and learning from decisions.

Learn in Partnership
 * Recognizing strengths, utilizing expertise and personal experience to overcome barriers.

Live in Community
 * Learning and modeling positive behaviors in the community.

Work for Accountability
 * Taking charge of one’s life, shifting from survival orientation to stability.

Programs
BOSS operates a network of housing and support service programs in Berkeley, Oakland, and Hayward.

All programs employ 4 core strategies for fighting homelessness and poverty


 * Housing
 * Health
 * Income
 * Social Justice

BOSS programs provide whatever level of support people need and request in order to build health, wellness, and self-sufficiency. Some people come to BOSS for one-time or temporary assistance. Others with histories of chronic homelessness and more serious challenges may engage in BOSS services for longer periods of time. BOSS also provides specialized programs for homeless children and youth.

BOSS also partners with other social justice and direct service organizations to achieve shared goals.

The path to wellness is unique for each person. As long as participants are working towards their goals, respect program rules, and respect those around them, we continue to provide assistance and be part of their circle of support.

Housing
At BOSS, we agree with the United Nations that housing is a human right: it is essential for people seeking to be self-sufficient, and for healthy neighborhoods and communities. BOSS’s goal is to help homeless people move from the streets into shelters, transitional housing, and permanent homes, whatever their income or levels of disability.

BOSS operates shelters and transitional houses, and helps homeless people find and move into permanent housing. In addition, BOSS advocates for the protection and construction of affordable housing, and the protection of tenant rights.

Ursula Sherman Village (USV), Berkeley

 * Multi-Tiered Housing

Ursula Sherman Village is a service-rich residential ‘campus’ for homeless families and individuals—activities are designed to help homeless people live, work, learn, and heal so they can achieve health and self-sufficiency. The Village provides both short-term housing (Harrison House, 50 single adults, 9 families) and transitional housing (Sankofa House, 10 families). On-site services include a specialized after-school program for homeless children (Children’s Learning Center), adult literacy education and computer lab, access to health and mental health care, drug/alcohol recovery support, employment and job search assistance, peer support and mentoring, meals, laundry, showers, storage, and case management.

South County Homeless Project (SCHP), Hayward

 * Short-Term Special Needs Housing

SCHP serves homeless mentally disabled adults, helping them meet urgent needs and work towards health and self-sufficiency. On-site services include mental health services (including medications monitoring), access to health care, housing and employment search assistance, adult literacy education and computer lab, drug/alcohol recovery support, peer support and socialization, life skills classes, and regular case management.

McKinley Family Transitional House, Berkeley

 * Transitional Housing

McKinley serves homeless families with children, providing support to both parents and children such as housing and employment search, adult and children’s education, peer support and socialization, family activities, child development, and regular case management.

BOSS HIV/AIDS Transitional Houses
• Long-Term Special Needs Housing

BOSS operates two houses that serve homeless adults with HIV/AIDS. On-site services include access to health and mental health care, housing and employment search assistance, adult education, drug/alcohol recovery support, and regular case management.

BOSS Behavioral Health Care Transitional Houses
Casa Maria serves homeless single adults with severe and persistent mental illness and drug/alcohol issues.
 * Casa Maria, Oakland

Pacheco Court serves homeless families and individuals with mental disabilities.
 * Pacheco Court, Hayward

Rosa Parks serves single homeless adults with multiple disabilities.
 * Rosa Parks House, Oakland

South County Sober Housing serves homeless mentally disabled single adults with drug/alcohol problems.
 * South County Sober Housing, Hayward

On-site services at these houses include access to health and mental health care (including medications monitoring), housing and employment search assistance, adult education, drug/alcohol recovery support, and regular case management.

Rapid Housing Services
All shelters and housing programs listed above strive to help residents find and secure permanent affordable housing through access to rental listings, advocacy with landlords, unit inspections, and move in assistance when possible. BOSS has a limited number of temporary rental subsidies funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for eligible participants in our programs. As appropriate participants are helped to secure federal Section 8 subsidies, although funding for this program has been slashed dramatically.

Health
BOSS provides a range of services to help homeless people achieve the maximum possible health and wellness, to support stable independent living. BOSS also advocates for system improvements, to achieve better public policies and use of resources for people with disabilities.

Here is a full list of BOSS health programs:

Multi-Agency Service Center (MASC), Berkeley
The MASC provides a range of health and wellness services to the chronically homeless and mentally ill, offering respite from the street and a connection to life-changing support. Located in downtown Berkeley, it is open seven days a week, and serves as one of the primary entry points into BOSS. Services are open to anyone who is homeless in the Bay Area.

MASC services include:


 * Referrals to community services, including health and mental health
 * Showers and hygiene supplies
 * Voice mail and phone use
 * Lockers for storage, with mandatory case management
 * Housing placement services

The MASC also provides independent living support to many clients after they are housed, to prevent repeat homelessness or hospitalization. Alongside BOSS, representatives from Berkeley Public Health Clinic, Health Care for the Homeless, Homeless Action Center, Care Through Touch, and UCSF Nursing come to meet with clients to give additional services and referrals.

Behavioral Health Care Service Team, County-wide
In partnership with the Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Agency, the BOSS Service Team provides long-term case management to assist people with moderate to severe mental illness. The goal of the Service Team is to help formerly homeless individuals meet ongoing needs so they can manage their disability and avoid repeat homelessness or hospitalization.

Residential Health Services, County-wide
In all BOSS shelters and housing programs, staff provide a range of health services, including detailed needs assessments and referrals, access to health and mental health care, medications monitoring, health education and symptom management workshops, drug/alcohol recovery groups, peer support and socialization, and more.

BOSS programs also host interns from Samuel Merritt College of Nursing, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare, and Lifelong Health Services who provide additional health services including screenings, referrals, counseling, and treatment.

Income (Economic Development)
BOSS’s goal is to help homeless people move into permanent affordable housing - yet to remain housed, people need sufficient money for rent and other basic necessities. BOSS provides services that help people build the skills they need to obtain a living wage—or obtain public benefits to which they are entitled.

Here is a full list of BOSS income-related services:

Clean City Program, Berkeley
The BOSS Clean City Program is a partnership with the City of Berkeley Public Works Department. BOSS employs homeless people as temporary workers to provide street cleaning in several Berkeley districts through a contract with Public Works, including Downtown, 4th Street, and Telegraph Ave. The program is unique in its dual emphasis on providing training, hands-on work experience and income to workers, while also helping them seek permanent jobs elsewhere. Clean City workers wear bright blue vests that identify them as BOSS workers—keep your eyes peeled next time you are in Berkeley!

BEST Program, County-wide
The BOSS Benefits and Entitlements Specialist Team (BEST) is dedicated to helping eligible General Assistance recipients transition to Social Security Income (SSI), which provides higher and more reliable income. (General Assistance is currently provided only 3 out of 12 months of the year to recipients.)

Representative Payee Program, Berkeley
Some of our participants are not able to manage the income benefits they receive, so BOSS acts as their Representative Payee, receiving payments from Social Security and making sure that rents and bills are paid to keep people in housing and financially stable. BOSS also provides money management education and support in all residential programs.

Benefits Advocacy, County-wide
Participants in all BOSS programs are helped to apply for any public benefits for which they are eligible, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security (Disability) Income (SSI or SSDI), Veterans Assistance (VA), General Assistance (GA), food stamps, and other resources. For some individuals, this is temporary support until they find living wage work. For those who are unable to work full-time, benefits are essential to helping them live independently.

Employment Services, County-wide
Staff at our Multi-Agency Service Center (MASC) and in BOSS shelters and transitional houses assist participants to prepare for and seek work by assessing work readiness, creating resumes, conducting online searches, attending job support groups or 'soft skills' classes (on or off-site), and referring people to employment programs elsewhere in the community.

Adult Education Program, County-wide
The Adult Education Program is designed to help homeless individuals build the literacy and workforce skills needed to secure living wage jobs. The program also has therapeutic benefits for disabled participants. Literacy classes and access to computers and computer instruction are provided on-site in BOSS shelters and at The Workforce Collaborative.

Social Justice
Social justice work is a core part of BOSS's mission, as it is directed towards changing the root causes of homelessness. We have also found that regular engagement in purposeful activity and connection with peers and community partners increases people's health, wellness, and self-sufficiency.

Yet homeless people are often isolated from civic decision-making processes. Because meeting daily basic survival needs is understandably their top priority, many choose not to participate in grassroots organizing for social change. The result is that a crucial voice goes unheard.

BOSS aims to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and build civil society by helping people get involved in the policy-making process. Participants are actively involved in decision-making in all BOSS programs by volunteering and serving on Resident Councils. Participants are also hired as staff (50% of BOSS staff are from our target population) and serve on the Board of Directors.

In addition, there is a project in BOSS that is dedicated to social justice organizing—the Community Organizing Team (COT). COT members currently include homeless participants, BOSS staff, and UC Berkeley interns. COT campaigns include welfare rights work, fighting to protect affordable housing, protecting homeless people’s civil rights, advocating for adequate funding for health and human services, and more.

Here is a full list of BOSS income-related services:

Leadership Development
Participants throughout BOSS are encouraged to add their voice to community decision-making and are taught essential organizing skills such as public speaking, writing, and outreach techniques to share their stories. Within BOSS, they take on leadership roles as volunteers, mentors, and advisors, serve on on-site Resident Councils, are hired as staff, and serve on the Board of Directors. Externally, they are encouraged to take part in decision-making commissions, speak at public hearings, and get involved in local actions.

Issue Education
BOSS provides education to our participants on issues related to homelessness—local, state, and national legislation that directly affect homeless people, decisions being made about the allocation of public funds, and more. We support the right and responsibility of all citizens to vote, and conduct voter registration efforts to encourage more homeless and low-income people to exercise that right.

Goal-Focused Campaigns
BOSS participates in grassroots organizing campaigns that target specific policy goals—affordable housing, improved health care, welfare reform, education policy, transportation justice, and other issues. Currently BOSS is engaged with the following social justice partners to make a larger impact:

Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP):
In collaboration with organizers from throughout the Western states, BOSS participants helped organize a rally on January 20, 2010 on the 1-year anniversary of President Obama’s inauguration, to call for a renewed commitment to affordable housing and civil rights protections. We continue our work with this WRAP to fight for solutions to homelessness.

Urban Habitat Social Justice Caucus:
BOSS works with Bay Area social justice groups on regional and national issues.

Berkeley Community Coalition:
BOSS was a founding member of and works in partnership with this Berkeley-based human service groups to protect the local network of care for homeless, poor, hungry, and disabled people.

Transportation Justice Working Group (TJWG):
For several years now BOSS has helped fight for increased regional public transit resources—transportation relied on daily by low-income people.

Protecting GA:
BOSS participants have organized for months against new Alameda County General Assistance (GA) policy that cuts people off this loan program for people with no other income after only 3 months. Participants and staff had success eliminating some parts of the policy: the struggle continues to find solutions for individuals who will soon be entirely without income.