Need help? Look elsewhere…read more It will be impossible to reach anyone by phone. If you're lucky enough to catch someone on the phone, it's because they accidentally called you - then felt trapped - and made an appointment for a future date to get off the phone quickly. They will turn their phone off and be unreachable during the scheduled appointment time. Then, they will never return your calls, voicemails, or text messages. EOCP - Engagement Optional, Clients Powerless

Unfortunately my father stayed at this facility for 2days, and I had to manuver my life to bring…read morehim home with me because there is no way his hygiene can be kept up l in this facility. upon his arrival the bunking quarters were clean but the matresses was filthy. I have posted some photos that were taken of the bathroom and shower quarters and im absolutely appauled that the most vulnarable people in the oakland community have to deal with these type of conditions its disgusting, these people deserve livable bathing and bathroom conditions. One photo shows a vommit filled toilet in a 3 stall bathroom that is completely unusable and bio hazzard problem and has been like this for 3days with absolutely no fixing. Also a the shower stalls looked to have mold and rust and just plain filthy. These are such unfortunate conditions I will be contacting corporate office to discuss how to manage a cleaner environment for those in need. Signed concerned oakland resident.

I worked for this organization for 15 years. I loved every minute of it. This organization has…read moreintegrity, efficiency, and care for staff and clients.

Horrible organization. I worked here for ten years; bathing, feeding, toileting clients. I…read moretook care of them when they were sick, cleaned them if they had accidents and gave them space to be themselves. After ten years of grueling work I was terminated after minor misunderstandings with a supervisor (conflict is normal amongst humans). Tom Heinz the Director told me flat out he would deny my unemployment and he did. After TEN fucking years he couldn't just let me even have the security of unemployment to help me move on to my next job. East Bay Innovations even hired an attorney to fight my unemployment...sick people manage this place. Luckily the judge ruled in my favor because she saw their reason for terminating me was petty so I got my unemployment. I really loved the clients and my coworkers, I'm still friends with some of them today but the people on top ie Director and Codirector are sociopaths.

The staff at Donor Network West is incredible. They made this whole process smooth and easy and…read morealways kept us updated with our mom. Thank you all for taking good care of her. I know she is grateful to give the gift of life to those who need it. You all have a special place in our hearts. Thank you.

When I moved out to the Bay 2 years ago, I didn't really know too many people. I was in Rotaract…read moreall through my undergrad years at UC Davis, so I decided to check out my local chapter here in Central Alameda County (AKA San Leandro, Hayward, Castro Valley). Not only did I become extremely involved with all 3 cities' communities, I also became family with all the Rotaract members in the club. Some background info about Rotaract: Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored international service club for young men and women, ages 18-30. Rotaract is comprised of college students, graduate students, young professionals, and innovative, lively, and compassionate community leaders. Rotaract combines community work along with professional development skills. We are part of an international family with Rotary, Interact, Interwheel, Youth Exchange, and Youth Scholars personally committed to serving our local, national, and international community. This local chapter, Rotaract CAC, was only chartered in June 2012, so we're a fairly young club, but don't let that fool you. Last year I served as Community Service Director and as a club, we accomplished roughly 800 service hours with fewer than 20 charter members within a year. That year we also fundraised enough to prevent 1,500 babies in Africa from childhood AIDS through congenital transmission from our international service project: Child AIDS Prevention (CAP) project with Los Altos Rotary. We also did a continual joint Adopt-A-School project at the Melrose Leadership Academy in Oakland with the Oakland Sunrise Club. We're quite a busy club so there is always an opportunity to come out, meet us, and join our events :) Flash forward to the present: I am now the current president and all I can tell you is that our club only gets more ambitious and passionate with time! It's only 4 months into my term and we have already reached our fundraising goal for CAP to save 2,000 children's lives and we have collected 2,200 toothbrushes for our current International Project: Smile Kits, where we are sending 5,000+ donated toothbrushes to rural schools and orphanages in Mindanao, Philippines through philanthropy missions. I could probably gush on about all the awesome service projects (my favorite part), socials, and professional networking we do, but you'll just need to come check it out yourself. Hope to see you out there and welcome to the Rotaract family :D

This Rotaract club has tremendous character. It has made a serious impact on the surrounding…read morecommunity since inception. This club has reinforced my belief that any person's wealth is the good that he or she does in this world.

Wow! I am sad to hear all these negative reviews. I have total respect for both ECHO Housing as…read morewell as the City of Union City. I am exceptionally pleased with the service I received from ECHO Housing and loved how quickly they took care of my housing problem. Let me explain, shall I? Two weeks ago, I lost hot water, and after several attempts of requesting my landlord to turn back on my hot water and them ignoring the issue, I didn't know whom to turn to so I began looking up numbers for the housing authority and came across a phone number in Union City. As a cry for help and guidance, I picked up the phone at 9 PM and left a message for the City of Union City, trust me, I was NOT expecting an answer so quickly, especially in COVID-19. Now, don't ask whom I left the message for because I honestly do not know. I was begging for guidance as I had never been through a slumlord issue before. The next day after my call to the City of Union City, I received a call from a lovely Angel named Sharisse that worked for ECHO Housing. I told Sharisse my issue and informed her that my landlord had refused to speak to me and wanted to pass communication through my neighbor, which was quick alarming to me. After a week of not having hot water, Sharisse understood my frustration and reassured me that she was there to assist me. Sharisse had an opportunity to speak to my landlord and, within 24 hours, I had hot water! Of course, in this crazy world we live in, I am afraid of retaliation. However, Sharisse reassured me that if my landlord gave me any problems or tried to harass me, that I can call her or her colleague, Jonathan, and they will assist me. Its a relief to know that there are still good people out there during these challenging times. I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to both the City of Union City who passed my call to ECHO Housing, and Shariesse for taking my complaint and giving me a call right away. I will be forever grateful for the service I received from here!

I called and finally got someone to talk with. She send me only resources but wait a minute you are…read moreone resource to help me. She said that but nothing was actually real. I have a problem with my landlord giving me 7-day correction of the unit then handed me rent increase starting August 1st. They still didn't help me then I called again left a voicemail someone told me that they will call me but I haven't heard from anybody after. Im suffering here and no government office can't help, the same thing as eviction defense they lack professionalism and they didn't know Castro Valley is Alameda County. I'm sorry to say America woke up, why do you hire people who are not loyal to the American people, why do you hire people who lack professionalism, why do you give your office low rating. No wonder a lot of place are closing.

This foundation is great helps all the kids and all the area whether it's San Leandro San Lorenzo,…read moreI would highly recommend them

Tucked in the corner of the Pet Food Express & McCaulous shopping center is the Down Syndrome…read moreConnection, a little store-front area that provides education, hope and support to families that have been blessed with a Down Syndrome child. One of my bffs recently gave birth to a perfect little angel who just happens to have an extra chromosome and we learned of the Down Syndrome Connection at the hospital. This amazing organization provided her and her family with tons of literature as well as classes where she can learn techniques to assist with the baby's development. I've been to the facility to watch her other child while they were in class and had the opportunity to hang out in their warm front room, playing with a cool train set and reading from their huge selection of children's books. Everyone that works here is SO nice and the feeling you get being there is that these people are not only knowledgeable about Down Syndrome but more than just empathetic, they've been through a similar journey. In addition to hanging out in the office, I was lucky enough to attend their huge annual event, which consists of a walk and then a bbq lunch/carnival. What an amazing day getting to celebrate tons of special children who are so inspiring and the enormous cheering teams they have made up of all the family/friends that love them. I can't say enough about this wonderful organization. Down Syndrome Connection is Woohoo! As good as it gets! Yelp 100 Challenge: 98/100

We first learned of the Down syndrome connection 15 years ago. When I moved back into the bay area…read morewith my four-year-old son who had down syndrome. We started off in the children's groups which were great. We've been getting speech therapy here for years. I highly recommend Heather she is the best speech therapist. Heather is the only person that has been able to help me with my sons speech. I also received a lot of advocacy help from Martha Hogan who was the founder. She also referred me to a couple of attorneys. Which have helped me out through the years. From finding attorneys to help me with the school district, to getting an attorney for conservatorship for my son when he turned 18. I can't say enough how much this facility has helped me, being a single mom of a child with down syndrome. They're are so many options here for help. I just want to say one more thing, that every single person that works here is so nice.

This organization is amazing. They are looking for need in their local area and internationally in…read moreways that are holistic and neurodiversity affirming. No human is considered less than nor are they left out. On a side note, if folks see reviews from Brian C. on here, it is a smear campaign run by a sour ex. He used to be a big supporter. We all know how that goes.

I have been working with the special needs population for decades. The caregivers and the entire…read morefamilies are affected when the needs of one family member deplete energy, time and funds. Kiera Rain's idea for California Brainwaves provides a short and long-term solution for this growing problem. She is setting up a family facility so that the person with a brain disability can get care and the family can have respite time, all in one place. She is thinking out of the box and into the future!