765 people helped by our street outreach teams between July 2023 and June 2024.
Housing Success: Meet Janice!
“I loved taking care of people,” says Janice, an Oakland native and elder. Until she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Janice worked as a home healthcare worker. Later, when her mother passed away, a family member sold the house and kept the money. Janice and three of her siblings had no place to live.
For a time, Janice stayed with her boyfriend. But the relationship became violent. Janice fled with just a few belongings. “I drove my car directly to the San Leandro Marina,” she says. For two long years, she lived in her car there.
Three of Janice’s siblings died without shelter. Janice herself contracted Covid twice. One day a police officer asked her if she’d like to be connected with services. Janice said yes.
Building Futures’ Street Outreach Team took the time to build trust with Janice. “Randy came to me at the Marina,” Janice remembers. “He found me resources. He would bring delicious food that a staff member’s mother cooked.”
Janice began attending Building Futures’ laundry days in San Leandro. She also met our partners at April Showers, where she could access everything from a shower to a hot lunch to books to clothes and toiletries.
Janice and Randy built trust by sharing stories about their lives. “He felt like a brother to me,” Janice says. Randy helped Janice to document her disability, and provided support, food, and advocacy with appointments and resources.
Janice was proactive and consistent. For two years, she applied for every housing program available. “Part of my work is keeping people’s spirits up,” says Randy. “I always reminded Janice where we started, where we’d come, and what we aimed for.”
Finally, Janice’s application was accepted. She was elated. “Once I got my apartment, Building Futures provided me with furniture and all the essentials,” she says.
”Janice is MOTIVATED,” says Randy. “It lifted me to see her strength and spirit and energy.”
Janice still fishes and traps crabs at the San Leandro Marina. “I can’t stay away from this beautiful place,” she says. “I sit and think and get my head right. Building Futures is a blessing!”
LETTER from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Housing is the very cornerstone of a stable life. Families and individuals thrown into homelessness need a safe place to call home—followed by support and resources.
Building Futures helped 2,184 people with our street outreach, shelter, domestic violence, and/or housing services between July 2023 and June 2024. Community supporters and partners make our work possible. Every person we serve has a story of adversity and hard work to rebuild a better life after homelessness or domestic violence. Janice, whose story is on our cover, is such a person.
We’ve built considerable expertise since our founding in 1988. The process might begin with Building Futures’ Street Outreach Team engaging with a person living in an encampment, or in a vehicle, like Janice. It might start in our shelters, or with a call to our domestic violence crisis line. Our wide-ranging housing program equips us to connect those we serve with a place to call home.
Partnerships that address root causes and provide solutions are of crucial importance. One example is Building Futures’ partnership with Housing Consortium of the East Bay and the City of San Leandro on the Lewelling Interim Housing & Drop In Center project. The site will open this December. Another partnership with the Alameda Housing Authority will create 90 permanent supportive housing units of housing for homeless and formerly homeless people. (The photo of me is at the ground-breaking event!)
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Together, we can build communities where every child, every adult, can thrive. Thank you for your partnership. It really does mean the world!
Warmly,
Liz Varela
Board of Directors
(July 2023–June 2024)
Cristi Ritschel
President
Paul Carney
Vice President
Sandy Schnieder
Treasurer
Ingrid Jonsson
Secretary
Carla Dartis
Ellen Dektar
Nicole Hankton
Jean Hom
Tyng Liu
Carrie Lutjens
Liz Varela
Executive Director
Jazz it Up Sells Out, Raises $135,000!
Sponsors, attendees, and generous donors made our annual benefit a big success. Our sold-out evening at Nido’s was an absolute blast! Jazz it Up 2024 featured delicious tacos, purple margaritas and live jazz by Darlene Coleman and the Steve Carter Trio. All proceeds raised support Building Futures’ homeless, domestic violence, and housing services.
Preparations are already underway for an expanded Jazz it Up 2025 celebration, set for Thursday, May 15th at fabulous Yoshi’s Oakland! Mark your calendar! See you there!
Board Members Carla Dartis and Cristi Ritschel
Planned Gifts Are for Everyone
Charitable bequests are most often made by ordinary people who care deeply about the cause they support.
You don’t have to be rich to leave a bequest.
We recently received a call from a longtime supporter. Years ago, as a young mother, she fled from her abuser. She found happiness in San Leandro, where Building Futures is headquartered.
“There was no help for any woman in the 1960s,” she said. “Building Futures has made a huge difference.”
This generous supporter had just met with her financial planner and added a bequest to us to her will. With a planned gift, your legacy endures.
Thinking of including Building Futures in your estate plan?
Visit bfwc.org/planned-giving or contact Ana Mahiri at 510-357-0205 x204 or [email protected]
Please consult with an attorney or financial planner, as Building Futures cannot provide legal or financial advice.
