HOUSING SERVICES

Supportive housing and other programs are developed each year that go beyond emergency shelters to
seek permanent housing solutions. Supportive housing combines affordable housing with supportive,
wrap-around services and is widely recognized as the most effective and more cost-effective means of
ending homelessness

Bessie Coleman Court
In 2002 BFWC opened Bessie Coleman Court, 52 units of transitional and permanent housing at
Alameda Point (the former Alameda Naval Air Station), to provide permanent housing solutions for
homeless women and children.

All the residents living at Bessie Coleman Court have on-site case managers, and access to a wide range of
services including support groups, food, clothing, life skills training and a therapeutic children's program. Additional services are available at nearby Alameda Point Collaborative Multi–Service Center.

Most recently, in partnership with Operation Dignity and Alameda Point Collaborative, Building Futures has begun to engage in a collaborative planning process to preserve, enhance, and potentially expand 200 units of affordable, supportive housing serving formerly homeless individuals and families at Alameda Point, California. For more information, see Collaborative Partners (CP) Homeless Housing Planning Project.

Mid-County Housing Resource Center-Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing
BFWC is the lead agency for Alameda County’s Mid-County Housing Resource Center serving Alameda,
Castro Valley, Hayward, San Leandro and San Lorenzo. The program provides temporary financial
assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services to individuals and their families who are
homeless or would be homeless but for this assistance. For more information and availability, see
HRC Availability. Call 2-1-1 for assessment and referral to the Mid-County Housing Resource Center.

Supportive Services for Veterans and Their Families
The Alameda County Coalition for Veteran Families was awarded a $1 million grant to help homeless and at-risk Veteran families find and keep housing. This new program is part of the Veteran Affairs focus on providing employment, permanent housing and aid to Veterans and their families at risk of becoming homless. Due to the expertise we development in homelesses and rapid re-housing, we were invited to join the Coalition and will provide housing assistance and case management to Veterans' families. For more information about services, contact Operation Dignity.