Housing & Community Supports
BOSS provides services that help people obtain housing, move in, and keep it. Our Housing and Community Services team works with homeless and formerly homeless residents across Alameda County to navigate the path from streets or shelters to permanent apartments with their names on the lease.
We handle housing navigation (finding units, completing applications, securing vouchers), move-in support (deposits, setup, logistics), and tenancy support (staying housed, resolving issues with landlords, understanding tenant rights). When housing problems arise—late rent, conflicts with property management, lease violations—we intervene early and advocate for our residents.
This is Housing First in practice. People get housed first, then we provide whatever support they need to stay housed. Case management. Connections to mental health and medical care. Employment resources. Advocacy with landlords. Crisis intervention when needed. The goal is simple: fewer people in hospitals, shelters, and streets. More people in permanent housing can keep.
Housing Navigation Program
A highly skilled and trained team of Housing Navigators provides needs assessments, housing education, access to listings, advocacy with landlords, help filling out housing applications, connection to subsidies as available, and case management to facilitate a successful transition to housing along with critical time intervention to ensure stabilization. The team understands the intertwined issues facing individuals and families in deep poverty and connects them to wrap-around services and community assets as appropriate.
Eligibility
Housing Navigators work to house individuals and families in our BOSS Shelter Network & PATH programs and those referred to us through the 211 Coordinated Entry System.
Location & Hours
County-wide program
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Representative Payee Program
BOSS provides Representative Payee services to individuals who have been designated by Social Security as needing a payee to manage their income, or who have been referred for this assistance. BOSS works with people to plan their budget, receives their public benefit checks, and issues checks to vendors as well as providing weekly social contact to make sure participants stay housed.
Eligibility
Individuals must be referred to the Representative Payee Program from the City of Berkeley, Berkeley Mental Health, or the Alameda County Sub-Payee Program.
Location & Hours
1918 University Avenue, Berkeley
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5 pm
(hours of engagement and check distribution 9am-1pm)
510-649-1930 x 3004
Shelter Plus Care
BOSS works in partnership with Alameda County Housing and Community Development and the City of Berkeley to offer ongoing case management services to those who are both experiencing homelessness and are disabled due to mental illness, addiction, physical disability, or a chronic medical condition.
Eligibility
Individuals must be referred to the Representative Payee Program from the City of Berkeley, Berkeley Mental Health, or the Alameda County Sub-Payee Program.
Location & Hours
1918 University Avenue, Berkeley
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5 pm
(hours of engagement and check distribution 9am-1pm)
510-649-1930 x 3004
Cal Aim
BOSS helps people enroll in CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal), a program that provides enhanced health services and community support for eligible Medi-Cal members.
CalAIM covers services beyond traditional health care: housing support, nutrition assistance, sobering centers, respite care, and care coordination for people with complex health needs. If you're navigating homelessness, chronic health conditions, substance use, mental health challenges, or reentry, CalAIM can connect you to supports that stabilize your life.
Eligibility
Individuals must be living in Alameda County and prioritized for services utilizing the Coordinated Entry System (CES)
Location & Hours
1918 University Avenue, Berkeley
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5 pm
(hours of engagement and check distribution 9am-1pm)
510-649-1930 x 3004