Bessie Coleman Court Grand Opening

Bessie Coleman Court to Provide 52 Units of Permanent and Transitional Housing for Formerly Homeless Women and Children

SAN LEANDRO, CA (March 13, 2002), On March 13, 2002, Building Futures with Women and Children (BFWC) celebrates the Grand Opening of Bessie Coleman Court (BCC), a 52 unit transitional and permanent housing development located in Alameda. Building Futures with Women and Children is a social service nonprofit serving women and children surviving homelessness and domestic violence. Guest speakers at the event include Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, Alameda Mayor Ralph Appezzato, and San Leandro Mayor Shelia Young.

BFWC received over 600 applications for its 22 transitional units, which is one indication of the need for affordable housing. The clients living at Bessie Coleman Court will have one-on-one case management, employment training and assistance, support groups, therapy, and quality health care. The children living at Bessie Coleman Court will have access to childcare and participate in recreational and therapeutic programs. Clients living at Bessie Coleman Court will also have access to a myriad of other services provided by the Alameda Point Collaborative.

"Bessie Coleman Court is the culmination of 8 years of planning and carrying out our vision for building safe, affordable housing for homeless women and children, who would otherwise find it difficult to secure housing considering the local housing rates. In collaboration with other agencies in Alameda Point, BFWC is striving to create a violence free neighborhood where residents will be safe at home and in their community," said Camille Constantino, BFWC's Housing and Community Services Program Director.

This program has been generously funded by many Bay Area foundations, corporations, and individuals, including: US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; County of Alameda; State of California; City of San Leandro; City of Alameda; Bank of the West; Federal Home Loan Bank; Kresge Foundation; S.H. Cowell Foundation; William G. Irwin Charity Foundation; Bay Area Regional Initiative; Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation; Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund; Wells Fargo Foundation; Citibank; Ice Cream Partners; and US Bank.

Currently, BFWC operates:

San Leandro Shelter	30 bed emergency shelter	San Leandro
Sister Me Home Safe House	20 bed safe house	Confidential
Midway Shelter	25 bed emergency shelter	Alameda
Community Education and Outreach	1,325 women annually	Bay Area
Project Open Doors for Children	300 children annually	East Bay
24 hour toll free crisis line	3,000 calls annually	Bay Area

The housing developments name was inspired by Bessie Coleman, a woman who overcame racism and sexism in the 1920's to become the first African American woman to earn an international pilot's license.

All interested parties are invited to join us on March 13, 2002, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 2500 Barber's Point Road, Alameda for the Grand Opening ceremony. For more information about Building Futures with Women and Children or questions about Bessie Coleman Court, please call BFWC at (510) 357-0205.