If you are seeking shelter and housing assistance, please call 211 to get referred to a Housing Resource Center. 24-hour, toll-free crisis line: 1-866-A-WAY-OUT
Building Futures provides a range of services for survivors of domestic violence. We provide shelter and support services to families and individuals fleeing an abuser, at Sister Me Home safe house. Our domestic violence services also include a 24-hour help line, community outreach/education, individual/ group counseling, and referrals for legal and other services, for survivors of all gender identities. We also offer fellow homeless providers technical assistance, education and training to give them the tools to recognize and support domestic violence issues. If you are experiencing domestic violence and need help, call Building Futures’ 24-hour crisis line: 1-866-292-9688.
Domestic Violence Support Groups
Women’s Group
Building Futures provides a Domestic Violence Virtual support group for individuals who have experienced domestic violence/intimate partner violence. We provide a safe confidential space to share their personal stories and connect with other survivors, whether they are currently experiencing domestic violence or intimate partner violence in their relationship.
Both in-person and virtual support groups offered:
When: Wednesdays, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Where: details after initial intake call
Please contact the Domestic Violence Outreach Team at [email protected] to sign up for the group or with any questions.
Domestic Violence Counseling and Advocacy Services
Building Futures’ Domestic Violence outreach team provides counseling, advocacy, case management, housing navigation support, and support to those affected by domestic violence.
Clients of these services may not be interested in or require Sister Me Home Safe House services.
- Building Futures also offers supportive court accompaniments for domestic violence-related court appearances (for example, restraining order hearings, family law court dates, or criminal cases.) These services are free and confidential.
- Domestic violence individual peer counseling sessions are available to anyone regardless of gender identification.
- Assistance applying for the Safe at Home program. The program provides free post office box and mail forwarding services. Safe at Home is designed to help survivors of Domestic Violence, stalking, or sexual assault. The Safe At Home program helps its participants start new lives in peace, and to provide added protections to their overall safety plans.
- Building Futures offers in-person/virtual court accompaniments for any court matters pertaining to domestic violence legal matters, such as restraining order hearings, child custody cases, criminal court cases, and Child Protective Services court proceeding. Our DV Outreach Team serves as emotional support to those who are going through difficult court proceedings
- Building Futures also offers an in-person 6-hour Domestic Violence education series, which is consisting of three, 2-hour sessions. These sessions are facilitated by an authorized Domestic Violence Counselor, that may be required by some Alameda County District Attorney’s offices, lawyers, or judges to persons who wish to change or terminate a domestic violence restraining order, which may include EPOs, DVROs, CPOs.
For more information, please contact the DV Outreach Team at [email protected] or call our 24-hour crisis line at: 1-866-292-9688.
Sister Me Home Safe House
At Sister Me Home, Building Futures provides a confidential safe house that includes emotional support services in a safe, empowering, and healing environment. The safe house provides 20 beds with 24-hour Domestic Violence Trained Resident Advocates and individually tailored, culturally appropriate support services. Sister Me Home is open to all fleeing domestic violence, regardless of gender identification.
Sister Me Home residents receive:
- Clean, warm beds
- Meals, access to kitchen and unlimited on-site food pantry
- On-Site laundry Facilities
- Access to Internet, computers, and telephones
- Mail services
- Access to toiletries and clothes
- Transportation assistance
- Case management support
- Weekly on-site DV support groups and individual peer counseling services
- Permanent housing assistance
- Direct referrals to Linkages Rapid Rehousing program for families that qualify
- Linkage to legal services
- Linkage to community and mainstream services
- Linkages to primary dental, medical, and mental health services
- Linkages to mental health counseling and therapy
- Children’s programing and trauma informed activities
- School enrollment and McKinney Vento Act Assistance
If you are seeking shelter or fleeing from an abusive relationship, call our 24-Hour, toll-free crisis line: 1-866-A-WAY-OUT (292-9688)
Domestic Violence Counselor Certification Training
Building Futures delivers a Domestic Violence Counselor Certification Training (aka DVT) twice a year, which meets the requirements set by the state of California for training Domestic Violence Counselors. After successfully completing the training, participants receive a Certificate of Completion that allows them to pursue volunteer and employment opportunities working directly with survivors of domestic violence or intimate partner violence in the state of California.
In addition to foundational information on domestic violence, this training emphasizes working with domestic violence survivors who are experiencing intersecting barriers, such as homelessness and/or mental health challenges and/or battling substance abuse.
The curriculum covers various intersecting topics/barriers that domestic violence survivors might be facing because of their trauma. These topics are presented by professionals in the field, through information sessions, interactive activities and facilitated discussions by the Building Futures’ Domestic Violence Outreach Team.
To find out more about the Domestic Violence Counselor Training, please contact us at [email protected].
Want to make a difference and volunteer or work with people impacted by domestic violence?
Fall 2022 Virtual Training—CLASS IS FULL
Next Domestic Violence Counselor Training will begin March 2023.
Domestic Violence Outreach and Education Presentations
Building Futures outreach 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. These presentations can be tailored to fit your needs and can run from 30 minutes to 2 hours and be broken up into sessions with your organization.
- Technical Assistance
The Domestic Violence Outreach team also provides technical assistance to employers who wish to strengthen their workplace’s response to domestic violence. We acknowledge that Domestic Violence is a complex issue with many intersecting barriers. We provide technical assistance services, resource sharing, and problem-solving interactions designed to assist domestic violence service programs, affiliated professionals, and governmental and other human service systems with a variety of issues that arise around the complexities of domestic violence work. - Teen Programming
Educational and preventative workshops to high school classes around the importance of awareness about teen dating violence explained in an age-appropriate way.
- DV 101
To request a free “DV 101” presentation or technical assistance training for your agency, please submit a Request for Community Education form.
ASK LIZ – SHOULD THIS BE IN THE “contact us” part of our website?”
- Community Tabling
Building Futures’ outreach staff is also available to provide an information table at your community events! To request a Building Futures informational table, please contact The DV Outreach Team, at [email protected] or call 510-357-0205, ext. 224.
