Formerly Homeless Women Face Fire, Relocation

Alameda, CA (November 17, 2004) - On the night of Friday, November 12, a fire destroyed the homes of 6 and displaced another 15 residents of Bessie Coleman Court, an affordable housing complex for formerly homeless women and their children in Alameda.

Building Futures with Women and Children, a San Leandro-based nonprofit organization serving homeless women and children in Alameda County, operates the site, which provides 52 units of transitional and permanent affordable housing for women and children who are in need of safe housing with supportive services. Residents of Bessie Coleman Court pay one third of their income as rent. Most are survivors of domestic violence, and many are diagnosed with mental illness.

Bessie Coleman Court consists of three large buildings in a converted motor hotel at the former Alameda Point Naval Base. The fire forced the evacuation of one of those buildings and has displaced 21 women and children. Four of the units are severely damaged, and several others had holes punched in the roofs to release smoke and can be repaired within weeks. The rest of the units can be reoccupied as soon as safety precautions are met, power is restored to the building and the fire alarms have been reconnected. Temporary housing and building repairs are being arranged.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Fortunately, no residents were hurt, but one firefighter suffered a second-degree burn on his neck. That firefighter was treated and released over the weekend.

Building Futures with Women and Children has begun receiving calls from community members who want to extend help to the women and children who were displaced by the fire. "Property insurance will cover repairs to the building, but some residents have lost most of their belongings, including clothes, personal belongings and basic household supplies," says Executive Director Elaine de Coligny. "Some of these people have only been living at Bessie Coleman Court for a few months, after having been homeless and served at Building Futures' emergency shelters. They had little, but what they owned was precious to them."

The primary need at this time is for monetary donations to cover immediate needs and re-establish the fledgling households. Building Futures' ability to accept, process, and store donations of items is limited. For those who wish to send a contribution to help displaced residents replace household goods may send them to BCC FIRE FUND, Building Futures with Women and Children, 1395 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro, CA, 94577.

Building Futures is collecting lists of replacement items needed for BCC residents. For information, call (510) 357-0205, ext. 133. For further information about making a monetary donation, call Patricia Bidar at (510) 357-0205 ext. 114. For information about programs and services at Building Futures, see www.bfwc.org.

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