ABSOLUTELY do not know how to follow through with anything they tell you they will do. They strung…read moreus along for months because there was "something they were working on for us", and all kinds of promised help that never came through. All up until they kicked us out of the hotel they had put us in, never came through with somewhere to go from the hotel (even after reassuring us they had somewhere for us). So now we are back to living on the streets and wishing we had never even heard of this organization.

I was discriminated against two different ways, going there for a meal…read more Never again; I had a bad feeling I regret not following, that this would be the case. It was really blatant, too. They favor their friends, the guys that work there. I don't want your food, at the end of the day.

My feelings about Harrison house have not changed i was over there recently on some business and it…read morewas the same as one two and three years ago. It feels dirty there and the workers seem under educated and mean. It is very sad that there isn't a better group of workers so that more people could be helped by Harrison house. It's actually amazing that it is still open. I would hate to have to go into that place. I would actually be scared to stay there.

This is one of this is one of the best places to change your life if you want it!!read more

So impressed by the compassionate treatment of residents here. Truly amazing work on a shoestring…read morebudget.

Years ago my husband And I together with our new baby were evicted when my landlord told us we had…read morebroken our lease when we had the baby. There I was still in the hospital with nowhere else to go. The social worker found us a place at Raphael House on Sutter Street. This was when there was a Brother Juniper coffee shop down below. My son is grown now but we have fond memories of the kindness shown to us when we stayed. God bless all the Brothers and Sisters

I have volunteered time here. The ground floor of this building is a drop in center for homeless…read morewomen. It's run by a nun and affiliated with Saint Mary's Center down the street. It's open from 830 to 2pm Monday thru Friday and women can come here to shower, do laundry, use the phone, get coffee, breakfast, and lunch, or just get a little bit of rest in a safe place. They also do events here for the women like housing workshops and hair cuts. This place is doing great things for the community, and the women who run this place and work here are some really amazing and compassionate human beings. This is a great place to donate to, and even if you can't give money, they always appreciate food items, warm clothes, and toiletries.

I started out at the sheds on 27th. Great staff and awesome food. Only problem with this…read moreorganization and place is person named Ginger!! She has the worst attitude and will make everything for you as hard as she can. Not a good fit for Operation Dignity or the homeless she speaks or deals with. Great organization terrible person. I have spoken to people that have moved from here because of her. Great place to start your journey off the street. I still miss the food.

Just made a donation to help!!…read more Seem like very friendly people!! Glad to be a part in whatever way!!

Always a pleasant experience. Staff and manager are always helpful and friendly…read more Stock is neatly arranged and buyable. Not only is Shepard's Gate worth a visit, but they support our community.

This review is written as an observer at a distance given lack of access during the recovery…read moreprocess. Most info gained through family members who have had direct contact and my own research. This program and organization is unlike any other I've seen or heard of. While being very structured in many ways such as lack of outside communication for most of 11 months, this allows the individual to step out from under the burden upon them, long enough to make the personal changes needed. The facilities are excellent, and the needs of the participants are well met. Religion may not be your thing, but if accepting God into your life helps reduce the anxiety, or other inhibiting factors, why not? If participants learn to think about their actions prior to acting, they learn to avoid problems, and get help when they recognize it on the horizon. Those are much needed skills today. The support shepherds gate receives from all the churches in the tri-valley area is nothing short of amazing! It is evident by the volunteer support the organization receives. This program has attendees learning coping skills necessary to live functionally in today's world. They help them develop computer skills. They help them interview for and get employment. They have access to every resource from sponsors to doctors and therapists. Attendees of the program seem very positive. Some refuse to play by the rules and are removed from the program. In the end this is a free 11 month program. Not because insurance is covering it, they don't charge. Yes that's written correctly. This is a program that gives the time needed to move to a new lifestyle, and have stabilization. I can't imagine what this would cost otherwise. When it seems like everyone's got an angle to rob you blind, here is the purest form of love and support. I had my reservations given its structure. But the feedback is outstanding.

A great group of people who Genuinely care about helping…read morepeople in need. I highly recommend Them.

I have only donated here. Very easy to donate, staff seems kind but be mindful of what you coaster…read more I have donated things that in hindsight I don't think a homeless person would benefit from (decor) and they...took it? Wouldve been better to put on a buy nothing group (dont donate to goodwill. They throw most things away) I wish they had activities for the homeless. I have a homeless friend and he says they do t provide things for him to do so he just walks around all day. It's sad

Never will I ever recommend such a place to any one. They don't help with any housing at all. They…read moremake it seem like they're not bad people at all lol. Let start with Randy one of the staff lying and accusing me of leaving the church that we went too when I never did. Or let's start by when ever you feel a type of way of people doing you wrong and Stephanie says " you're attacking me and my staff and always complaining about me or my staff " so she sides with her staff when they're in the wrong. Let's start with how they treat you like you're an animal while you're in there and when you confront them about it they act like you're someone who is scary. Or let's talk about how najeeba talks to children and comes at them when you're not looking and when you confront her she tries to play victim. So it's okay to bully kids but when I come an confront you about it it's a different story huh ? Or let's talk about how they play favorites between the families and one family will get more than the other. And how they let other families get away with more stuff but when you do the same thing that other family did. You get written up. Today I had had it. Najeeba kept following me around , talking about me to other clients , and even the staff seen her do it. An of course they will get under here saying I was a problem and how I supposedly never had my kids because that's what Stephanie said to me over the phone. Which was not true. The whole time I was in this program I worked every night. Even getting another job to stay away from these people. They still tried to find every reason to pick with me. Only one who was cool and cordial with anyone there was Brian or miss. Rosaria. They provide shelter and food. But they don't give a state of mind. They will not help you with housing. It's not true at all. Don't come here looking for housing because you're not going to get it. An it's very sad because they got a 2mill funding grant a can't help Anyone.

"I don't Judge anyone but you Smell like Alcohol, you better clean up before you get to the…read moreShelter". - Intake quote from Winter Nights Staff Member. Funny thing is...I don't drink. Like at all. I had just put hand sanitizer on. But to assume I was an alcoholic like that straight away...rude! We get into the shelter and as soon as we walk into the room, the air changes. My kids are chill and make friends fast but the moms hate me instantly of course. I tried being nice to kids. Got yelled at by ghetto psycho mom which makes her hate me more, when makes her mom friend she intake with her best friend. Her son gets my son sick with some kind of virus and we get kicked out of the shelter permanently. We broke no rules. We were the perfect family. Other families are Jealous. I know this shelter had to of broken some housing laws. We as a family have rights as well. My son has a severe breathing problem and we are OUTSIDE, HOMELESS, IN THIS BAD STORM...because other families couldn't handle seeing another family have more than them. Try starting by not getting piercings and tattoos all over your face you might make more than $12/hr. This place morally should be looked at. It feels like you are in PRISON when you are there.

Nothing feels as good as it does to give back to the community in joint efforts to make a positive…read moredifference and lend a hand to those in need. I would like to compose this review to spread awareness of this incredible Non-Profit! At this point in my life journey, I feel it is an absolute necessity to do whatever I can in some small way to show my appreciation for all I am blessed with and in turn, hope to inspire others to do the very same. This said, I was very happy to have been a recent participant with a very big volunteer opportunity organized by HandsOn Bay Area along with my employer, Kaiser Permanente in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day - instead of the "day off" mentality for the holiday, it is a day of service in his name for a wonderful MLK day ON! Volunteers within my organization were able to sign up and were greeted to a very warm reception by BFN's very own Executive Director, Sara Webber. Sara graciously gave us a brief tour and summary of how BFN was established and how they serve as the primary hub and distribution center for all who are in need of food - be it those who work hard and are employed and just down on their luck, to schools who offer meals to children in the Berkeley area, to those seniors who are retired and simply just don't have enough money to live on their Social Security and the expenses of life. There is such a sense of pride and human compassion that goes into everything at BFN. We happily got to work on various tasks within the warehouse including painting the large community room under the instruction of a local painter who offered his services, spreading mulch in the outdoor property and planting lemon trees as well as weeding, assembling industrial shelving that would be utilized in storing some of the canned goods, etc. Here is a direct exerpt from BFN's website that better describes what they are all about: Our Work The Berkeley Food Network (BFN) was founded in 2016 as an innovative, community-centered network of agencies that provide services to the food insecure residents of Berkeley, both housed and homeless, in order to close documented gaps in access to food in Berkeley. In its first year, BFN worked to develop and strengthen its network by increasing BFN membership to more than 40 organizations, hosting quarterly member meetings to raise concerns and share information, delivering trainings to member organizations, coordinating donated food deliveries among various member organizations, and laying the groundwork for a physical distribution hub. This year, BFN is working to expand its coordination of network-level services by opening a physical distribution hub and food pantry, by partnering with advocacy organizations to deliver food to populations not reached by existing services, and by continuing to facilitate network-level collaboration to coordinate services for different populations and share best practices. Food Sourcing and Distribution Hub BFN is working to establish a food sourcing and distribution hub that will be at the core of our work to end hunger in Berkeley. We aim to provide higher quality food, greater quantities, and more variety, including ample fresh foods, to all Berkeleyans who need food. We'll provide both groceries and prepared meals for our city's homeless and marginally housed community members. We will source culturally appropriate foods to accommodate clients' food preferences and reduce waste. BFN will operate an on-site client choice pantry offering healthy shelf-stable foods; fresh dairy, produce, and bread; frozen meat; and prepared foods. The BFN pantry will be open longer hours than other pantries in Berkeley in order to serve populations who find it difficult to attend existing pantry distributions. We'll help smaller food aid programs by transporting food to the places where people need food and expanding access to free food. And we'll work to ensure safe food handling practices every step of the way. Along with food from the Alameda County Community Food Bank, BFN will facilitate donations from local grocery stores, restaurants, and urban farms through a robust recovered food program. We'll offer a convenient and accessible recovery facility with operating hours that match the needs of local businesses. In addition to improving access to healthy and delicious food for food-insecure Berkeley residents, BFN's food recovery program will help Berkeley reduce the amount of edible food sent to landfill, thereby reducing greenhouse gases." As you can see, BFN offers vital services with a heart and amazing humans who run the daily operations. It was such a blessing to have been a part of a positive collaboration of peers and can't wait to lend a hand again! If you are looking for a way to give back in the area, I cannot recommend BFN highly enough!

From the owner: We are a food assistance non-profit supporting the communities of Berkeley and Albany with…read moregroceries. To view our full list of services, locations, and hours, visit bfn.org/getfood.