Boss

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 from the Hillel Streetwork Project in Berkeley who responded to the needs of mentally ill individuals being released to the streets by state hospital closures. Volunteers provided street outreach, crisis intervention, and benefits advocacy to the emerging homeless population. Founding Board Member and civil rights activist Ursula Sherman raised money to pay the first project staff, and the organization was incorporated into a 501c3 nonprofit.