FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Advisory
Dateline:
When: Thursday, April 8, 2021
Where: 200 Macdonald Ave Richmond, CA
Massive increase in homelessness
New CEO, Bram Begonia, has a fresh vision for the staggering growth of homelessness: “A great need requires a great solution. Given the dramatic increase of homelessness in the Bay Area compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe it is our responsibility to be an even greater part of the solution. We are excited to share the good news of our Bridge of Hope project, currently under construction, a 10,000 square foot safe home for women and children. We also know our program is transforming lives and we plan to bring our programs and services beyond Richmond and into the greater Bay Area as part of our long term strategic plan.”
On any given night, 28,000+ people are homeless in the Bay Area. 1-in-5 Richmond residents live in poverty, compared to 1-in-10 residents in the East Bay. In Contra Costa County alone, an estimated 3,500 are chronically homeless.
The Bay Area Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization intentionally located in the heart of Richmond, California, where it serves impoverished men, women, and children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Annually, we provide 1.1 million meals a year and 82,000 nights of shelter. In 2020, 3000+ meals were given per day.
We are a privately-funded provider of integrated services that care for the most vulnerable and economically disadvantaged members in the Bay Area by meeting their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. For the past 56 years, we have been unrelenting in commitment and dedication to our community’s hurting people. This will undoubtedly continue to grow for years to come under the fresh leadership of Bram Begonia.
Contact Info:
Please direct questions or interview inquiries to:
Stephanie Sewell, VP Development (510) 215 4889 email: StephanieS@BayAreaRescue.org
Rylie Silva, Capital Campaign Coordinator Cell (916) 622 1447 email: RylieSilva@BayAreaRescue.org
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