Build Promise Inc

On May 2, 2024, the Build Promise team, and over 200 community supporters, gathered at 1297 Sycamore Street in East Buffalo to celebrate the groundbreaking of its new, 24,066 square foot facility. Actual construction is now well underway. The building will be enclosed by November 2024. Based on the current construction schedule, we are preparing to open Build Promise in Fall 2025. We will welcome up to 96 men currently spending nights on the street for a warm meal and a place to sleep. When the Code Blue Season starts the following Winter, an additional 80 men will have a warm place to sleep when temperatures drop below 15 degrees. For many, this will be the first step out of homelessness. In addition to providing a safe place to sleep, these men will have access to quality medical, dental, behavioral health and other services that will improve their quality of life. Our goal for Give 716 is to raise $2,500 toward the cost of the cots and bedding we will need for the additional 80 men who will need shelter during Code Blue emergencies. Thank you for your support.

Believing all people have the right to safety, health, and dignity of work, the mission of Build Promise is to provide access to services, including mental health services, on Buffalo’s East Side. To meet the needs of the low-income and homeless residents in our East Side Community, we are building a 24.066 square foot facility on previously vacant property on Sycamore Street across from St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, which has served the East Side Community for 30 years. St. Luke’s is currently at capacity providing daily food services for up to 1,000 community members a day as well as meeting their clothing and food pantries needs.

In addition to providing 96 shelter beds for homeless men, this new facility will include space for trusted partner agencies and referral services that will provide integrated access to wrap-around services, including mental health, medical, dental, maternal care, nutritional support, eye care, legal support, family counseling, job training, job placement services and other needed services to low-income women, men and children. This Center’s unique design will also allow access to personal hygiene resources in the Refresh Spot. There homeless men can come to the facility to shower, do laundry, secure fresh clothes, and use restroom facilities, while not being required to reside at the facility.

Additionally, this $7 million+ construction project is a unique job creation and job training opportunity for neighborhood residents. Through the Build Promise Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, Build Promise partnered with 716 Ministries to provide job training to community residents to work on the construction of this center, and who are now certified to work at construction sites throughout Western New York.