Building Futures

Kids make up 52% of our shelters.

And right now, the Alameda Midway Shelter, the San Leandro Shelter, and our Domestic Violence Safe House are completely full.

That means we have more kids than ever in need of your support for back to school clothes and supplies.

We want to ensure the children and youth are well equipped and feeling confident all year long! We need your help to set kids up for success in this new school year!

How can you help? We’ve set up an online “shopping list” to raise money for much-needed items to set up the children for success—you can add multiple “items” when you donate.

They already have their backpacks, so new shoes and new clothing are at the top of the list! Gift cards are great and give mothers the ability to respond to the child’s most immediate needs.

Questions? Contact Daisy at [email protected].

Join us today at 3pm…

Please join Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Rev. Laura Rose, Alameda Family Services, Building Futures for Women and Children, Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi, and others to remember and honor the Alameda family we tragically lost to gun violence last Wednesday.

WHEN: Sunday, July 14, 3pm

WHERE: In front of Alameda City Hall

WHAT: A family-friendly gathering in memory of the four precious lives lost. All are welcome to attend. Please feel free to bring flowers or other items to create a memorial.

💔 Our hearts ache for the loved ones affected by the tragic shooting in Alameda this past Wednesday night, which claimed the lives of an woman, her six-year-old child, and her parents, while leaving her one-year-old critically injured. Her husband, and father of the children, has been “arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder”.* 💔

🏠 This news is profoundly difficult, especially when it strikes so close to home. According to the , over half of female homicide victims are killed by current or former male intimate partners, highlighting the pervasive issue of . 💜💙💛

⚖️ May justice prevail for the lives lost in our community. Domestic violence can affect ANYONE as it knows no bounds. As our community navigates collective grief from these tragic and preventable losses, we must remember that empathy transcends any of our differences. It's crucial not to let these individuals be reduced to numbers – they were members of our community and loved ones. Names have not yet been released for those who were killed. 🤝🕊️

🌟☎️ Domestic violence is preventable. Building Futures is standing by 24/7 answering calls on our crisis line: 1-866-A-WAY-OUT, 1-866-292-9688. We also offer 1:1 counseling, support groups, shelter, education, and even court accompaniment for domestic violence survivors throughout Alameda County. ☎️🌟

*For more details, you can read the City’s official press releases: https://www.alamedaca.gov/Shortcut-Content/News-Media/Update-on-Shooting-Incident-in-the-City-of-Alameda

🏠 HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A CRIME 🚫

📢 Survivors of shouldn't face fines or charges for seeking safety. Laws like those in punish those fleeing abuse. 📢

often forces individuals and families into , where they remain vulnerable. Stable housing is crucial for healing and rebuilding lives affected by violence. At , we advocate for compassionate policies addressing root causes and offering vital support.

Last year alone, Building Futures provided services for over 5,000 individuals in . Our Domestic Violence Services program includes shelter at our Sister Me Home safe house, a 24-hour help line, community outreach/education, individual and group counseling, as well as referrals for legal and other services for survivors of all genders.

We urge governments to reject harmful decisions and invest in and solutions. 💜💙💛🏠 Join us in advocating for a future where everyone has a safe place to call home. Together, we can build communities where every individual can thrive!

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need help, call Building Futures’ 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-292-9688.

Learn more about the issue by reading the article: https://msmagazine.com/2024/06/28/homeless-domestic-violence-supreme-court-camping-ban-grants-pass/

🏠 HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A CRIME 🚫

Over 50% of those in our housing program and three shelters are children. A recent Pediatrics study shows that housing insecurity in childhood leads to long-term health challenges. Stable housing is a basic human need that impacts every aspect of well-being.

Every individual deserves a safe place to call home. stands against the criminalization of homelessness. The recent decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass is inhumane and counterproductive.

Last year, Building Futures provided shelter, domestic violence support, and housing services for 5,397 individuals in . Our trauma-informed approach prioritizes permanent housing solutions for those in need.

Join us in advocating for compassionate policies that address the root causes of homelessness. Together, we can build communities where everyone can thrive! 💜💙💛🏠

Learn more, listen or read this NPR article:
https://www.wyso.org/npr-news/2024-07-01/when-little-kids-dont-have-stable-housing-it-can-affect-their-health-later

Raising funds for the Alameda Midway Shelter at the 4th of July RACE!

99 years young. Ginny has dedicated her life to the Midway Shelter and to end homelessness for women and children in Alameda – Building Futures is so happy to celebrate your birthday tomorrow! You inspire us.

Join us in honoring Ginny and register today for tomorrow's walk/run 4th of July RACE. All ages welcome.
www.midwayshelter.org/events

Check out this 30 second short about Ms. Ginny Krutilek's lifetime of community service, a founder of the Alameda Midway Shelter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeEayzj0mG4

(Links in comments)

The Supreme Court had its say. Now it’s your turn.

SCOTUS’s cruel ruling makes it easier to fine, ticket, or arrest people for sleeping outdoors. This is true even if elected officials have failed to produce a solution in the form of shelter or housing! These tickets and arrests are costly and inhumane!

Contact your local elected officials and let them know: The way to end a person’s homelessness to connect them to housing and services. PERIOD.

At Building Futures, we believe every individual deserves a safe place to call home. We stand against the criminalization of homelessness. Homelessness is not a crime.

To learn more about the ruling and for advocacy tips and updates, see the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s resources and guidance: https://endhomelessness.org/blog/the-supreme-court-rules-on-homelessness-what-it-all-means/

Join us on the fourth! The Alameda 4th of July 5K RACE still has a few spots left! This run benefits the Midway Shelter.

The shelter provides 25 beds for women and children without homes. The Alameda Homeless Network (midwayshelter.org) raises funds to keep the shelter going strong, all year long. Building Futures operates the shelter, providing beds, food, case management, and much more. Community support brings new beginnings to women and children in Alameda! Check out our information table booth at the finish line. Happy July 4th!

To Register:
OutfrontEndurance >
Event Pages >
Parade 5k Run/Walk

https://outfrontendurance.com/parade-5k-run%2Fwalk-1

Photo credit: Ed Jay Photography

🚨Today, 🏛️ upheld crucial protections preventing individuals under Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs) from possessing ****ms. This landmark decision in US v. Rahimi underscores the urgent need to keep fi****ms out of the hands of , as they drastically heighten the risk of lethal outcomes in abusive relationships.

On average, 3 women lose their lives to in the every day. Abusers’ access to fi****ms can increase the likelihood of fatal outcomes by 1,000%, and over half of women murdered by men are killed with fi****ms. Shockingly, half of mass shootings involve an abuser killing their partner, with over 2/3 of mass shootings linked to domestic violence. 📉These statistics highlight the critical importance of upholding federal laws that protect by restricting abusers' access to fi****ms — a cornerstone of the ruling📈

💜💙🧡💛 celebrates this decision as it marks a significant victory in the fight against , ensuring our legal system ⚖️ provides safety and support to those who need it most🫶

Today’s decision is an important victory for domestic violence victims and survivors. The Supreme Court’s ruling in US v. upholds federal law that prevents domestic abusers from having guns.

Civil protection orders are a critical piece of safety for many domestic violence survivors around the country. The federal fi****ms restrictions – and state laws modeled after them – that apply to respondents of protection orders save lives. Today, those laws and the protection they provide to survivors of domestic violence were upheld as constitutional. We are grateful for this continued, life-saving protection for survivors.

Learn more about the decision from NNEDV and the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://bit.ly/3xtlU8y

Slavery did not end on Juneteenth -- It honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Whether you call it Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or the country's second Independence Day, Juneteenth is one of the most important anniversaries in our nation's history.

Since 1865, Juneteenth has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States. Now, Juneteenth is a is a federal holiday.

After gaining their freedom, former enslaved African Americans and their descendants would travel to Galveston, TX annually in honor of Juneteenth. That tradition soon spread to other states, but it wasn't uncommon for white people to bar African Americans from celebrating in public spaces, forcing them to get creative. According to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Black community leaders in Houston saved $1,000 to purchase land in 1872 that would be devoted specifically to Juneteenth celebrations. That land became Emancipation Park, a name that it still bears. Juneteenth celebrations often involved helping newly freed Black folks learn about their voting rights.

Budget cuts to services for crime survivors + their children will cause homelessness, mental health crises, injuries, and deaths. We call on to approve the $103 million in funding allocated by the Legislature! , abuse services cannot be on the chopping block!

Day of action today! Call Governor Newsom's Office Directly at (916) 445-2841

At Building Futures alone, support for Sister Me Home
safe house is set to be cut by $125,000. Without
essential services, survivors will be forced to choose
between homelessness for themselves and their
children and staying with an abuser. Building Futures
has joined a large coalition demanding urgent action by
Governor Newsom, calling for this lifesaving support to
be retained. Contact Governor Newsom

read more at www.cpedv.org

“We are powerful because we have survived.” – Audre Lorde

Let us uplift, encourage and empower one another. Because is this month, but is every day.

✨ Sponsor Highlight ✨

💗 A heartfelt thank you to Sarah, Doug, Penny, and Max for sponsoring this year’s 🎷Jazz It Up! 🎶 gala. Sarah and her family mentioned they support Building Futures "because we believe every family should have a safe home and be able to live with dignity."

🏡 Your family stands as a shining example of how families can come together to support other families facing homelessness and domestic violence. With your help, we’re strengthening the bonds that hold our community together. 🤝 Together, we’re building a home of hope for those seeking a fresh start. 🌟 Thank you for being the heart of our mission! 💜

🌟 Sponsor Spotlight 🌟

🎉 A huge thank you to Nancy and Michael Pretto for sponsoring our 2024🎷Jazz it Up! 🎶 gala. Nancy and Michael are longtime supporters of Building Futures—this year marks 25 years of unwavering support for our work!

Funds raised from the event directly help individuals and families affected by homelessness and domestic violence right here in our shared community of San Leandro 🏡💜 We’re so grateful to have amazing neighbors like you who we can count on time and time again to make an impact ✨

The Victims of Crime Act provides funds to serve victims of crimes. But looming cuts at the federal level mean slashed services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, trafficking, and other crimes. At Building Futures alone, support for Sister Me Home safe house is set to be cut by $125,000. Without essential services, survivors will be forced to choose between homelessness for themselves and their children and staying with an abuser. Building Futures has joined a large coalition demanding urgent action by Governor Newsom, calling for this lifesaving support to be retained. Contact Governor Newsom and let him know: cuts to funding are not acceptable!

https://conta.cc/4bw0Q07

Event was tons of fun! Celebrating a great cause. Photos and report back here:

SOLD OUT Jazz it Up a Success! Photos! Gratitude! Love! Community support! View the event PHOTO GALLERY On May 2, 2024, our annual benefit event raised $135,000 to help individuals and families building new lives after homelessness

What a great night 2024 Jazz It Up! Check out our full report here (updated):

https://conta.cc/4bw0Q07

Photos! Gratitude! Community support! More than 200 guests mingled with friends old and new. All enjoyed live jazz, special cocktails, and delicious food.

All proceeds will help individuals and families building new lives after homelessness and domestic violence.

A HUGE thank you to each of our sponsors, guests, and supporters!

SOLD OUT Jazz it Up a Success! Photos! Gratitude! Love! Community support! View the event PHOTO GALLERY On May 2, 2024, our annual benefit event raised $135,000 to help individuals and families building new lives after homelessness

📣Sponsor Shoutout📣 Thank you for being a lead sponsor for this year’s Jazz It Up! Gala – your support helped Building Futures raise crucial funds to make a tangible difference in ending homelessness and domestic violence 🙌.

Pictured here is Dylan Boldt of Sprinkler Fitters, U.A. Local 483 who encouraged support of Building Futures!

All funds directly support Building Futures’ programs and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and family violence! 🏡💕 We are so grateful to you for making an impact in our shared community!

Huge gratitude to Star One Credit Union, for being one of our lead sponsors! Thanks to your unwavering generosity, our annual Jazz it Up! Gala raised crucial funds to make a tangible difference in ending homelessness and domestic violence. Let's continue to rally together, dear community, and keep building brighter futures and spreading love, one key at a time.

Thank you, AvalonBay Communities, Inc., for being one of our our lead sponsors! Thanks to you, our annual Jazz it Up! Gala raised crucial funds to make a tangible difference in ending homelessness and domestic violence.

So much gratitude to Kaiser Permanente, one of our our lead sponsors! Thanks to you, our annual Jazz it Up! Gala raised crucial funds to make a tangible difference in ending homelessness and domestic violence.

“How can you best support someone who is struggling with their mental health?Suggestions- listen actively, encourage openness, validate emotions and encourage healthy lifestyle” - wellness discussion among staff….

Staff appreciation! As we take care of our community, we took care of ourselves and had a “Wellness Day” honoring Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander month! We gathered to do group AAPI healing activities like a meditative walk, lunch, an educational introduction to Quigong, and a gardening activity to ground ourselves, discussing how we foster wellness in our daily life and those we support. ❤️🏠👶🏽

Jazz it Up 2024 was a SOLD OUT success! Thank you, attendees, sponsors, and donors! What a night of great food, drinks, live music, and moving words. And also an amazing opportunity: A donor has offered to match all gifts UP TO $10,000! All proceeds benefit services helping individuals and families build new futures after homelessness and domestic violence. Double the power of your gift today at

www.bfwc.org/donate

Huge gratitude to Stan & Susan Schonberg, our lead sponsors! Thanks to your unwavering generosity, our annual Jazz it Up! Gala raised crucial funds to make a tangible difference in ending homelessness and domestic violence. 🏡💕 Let's continue to rally together, dear community, and keep building brighter futures and spreading love, one key at a time.

“We enthusiastically support Building Futures year after year because of their amazing work lifting up the most vulnerable among us. Thank you to the Building Futures staff for being such an inspiration to us and to the whole community!” —Stan & Susan Schonberg

Sponsor spotlight! Grateful to Amazon, a lead sponsor! 🙌 Your ongoing support means the world to us. Thanks to your generosity, our annual Jazz it Up! Gala raised valuable funds to make a real impact in ending homelessness and domestic violence. 🏡💕 Community, let's keep building futures and spreading love, one key at a time.

“The families we serve come to us in crisis. Come to us lost. Come with nothing but wanting better for their children. A place to call home. Every day, we open our hearts to those we serve. We demonstrate our love for them with a smile, words of encouragement, and services that help them start again.” - Sabrina Thomas, Building Futures’ Emergency Services Director

We are still reflecting on last week's wonderful evening and how essential community and coming together is to our work. One highlight was the powerful words of our Directors, including Sabrina.

This year's Jazz it Up event filled us with so much inspiration and appreciation. Thanks to community members like you, we are so close to meeting our matching challenge!

Would you help us cross the finish line by giving what you can?

www.bfwc.org/donate
(link in bio)

Congratulations to the fabulous Louise Lovewell! Louise earned an award from the Soroptimist Club of Oakland and directed the $500 donation to us! We joined her to celebrate!

Louise helped found Building Futures, in 1988! She is also a mom, has volunteered, donated, guided and worked to better our community and the lives of the families and individuals we serve today.

We can, because of you! Thank you, Louise! Thank you The Lovewell Team - Re/Max Accord

Congratulations 🎈 to Louise! She earned an award from the Soroptomist Club for building futures!!!