Cornerstone Community Development Corporation dba Building Futures with Women & Children

Founded in 1989 by the Alameda Homeless Network and the City of Alameda, Midway provides 25 beds and services for homeless women and children. Building Futures was chosen to operate the shelter in 2001. The Midway Shelter provides a nurturing environment and tailored support services designed to help residents address the obstacles they face to ending their homelessness.The name “Midway” represents the shift in the lives of women and children served, where the cycle of homelessness and domestic violence falls away and a new future can be built.

Sister Me Home provides confidential shelter and support services in an environment of safety, empowerment, and healing. Sister Me Home is open to all who flee domestic violence, regardless of gender identification.

The shelter provides twenty 20 beds with twenty-four-hour staffing and culturally appropriate support services, including case management, mental health counseling, domestic violence groups and one-on-one assistance, children's programming, and referrals to health, legal, housing, and other assistance.

Bessie Coleman Court (BCC) is a 52-unit supportive permanent housing complex for women and men and children who have experienced chronic homelessness and domestic violence. Building Futures provides 24-hour awake staffing, case management, groups and other services with residents, many of whom have emotional and physical disabilities.

Building Futures’ domestic violence outreach team provides advocacy, case management, navigation, and support to those affected by domestic violence who are not living in shelters. Clients may receive free one-on-one counseling sessions with a trained domestic violence counselor, free supportive court accompaniment for domestic violence-related court appearances, and referrals for related services. These services are also offered in Spanish.

Services also include outreach to educate the public and increase awareness of domestic violence. Topics include the dynamics of abusive relationships, how to recognize signs of abuse, and connecting survivors with support. Building Futures also provides a 40-hour training for service providers that meets State requirements for domestic violence counselors.

Building Futures operates three Housing Resource Centers (HRCs): North County Family Front Door, San Leandro Housing Resource Center, and Alameda Housing Resource Center. Each one serves individuals and families as a one-stop hub that is part of the Alameda County Coordinated Entry System to assess and prioritize homeless or at-risk families for a range of shelter, housing and supportive services.

Two warming shelters in churches in San Leandro and Alameda are open from November to April on nights when very cold weather or rain is forecast. Warming shelter guests receive overnight shelter; dinner and breakfast; voluntary referrals to the Alameda County Health Van or other health and behavioral health services, and linkage to the Alameda County Coordinated Entry System for housing services.