Casa Adelante is home to about 300+ residents, but it's also home to an essential family-run business that serves its community at large. Paulenecia Binion and her younger sister, Demetria Kent, did not have the chance to grow up in a city they both loved. San Francisco was always a dream—one that felt out of reach during their childhood. Today, the two sisters are an integral part of their SF community—they’re helping families raise their toddlers in the place they once longed to call home.
The duo’s business model reflects a bigger TNDC mission: affordable housing and local childcare are vital to creating a healthy and sustainable working community.
"Every time I visited San Francisco, it felt like coming home. I always knew I’d end up here,” Binion said with a smile.
Binion’s journey to the City wasn’t an easy one. Growing up in Contra Costa County, she struggled with housing instability and found herself pregnant while sleeping in shelters. Yet, despite these hardships, she was determined to work hard to earn a culinary degree. After serving as a chef at a private school, she discovered a passion for childcare.
“I’ve always been a loving person, and I try to show that to my families. They see it,” Binion shared. “They see the love I pour into the kids and the meals I prepare for them—we’re a family."
Understanding the importance of building generational wealth, Binion invited Kent to join her in launching Precious Dreams Daycare, a decision that would change both of their lives.
What started as a small operation in the Tenderloin has since moved to a larger space at Casa Adelante in the Mission. In partnership with MEDA, 2828 16th St. was designed with entrepreneurs like Binion in mind. The intentional layout includes a sliding wall that allows Binion to separate her living space from the daycare’s playroom, creating an ideal environment for both business and family life. With this setup, she can serve four families with children ranging from one to four years old as well as raise her own three kids and Kent’s only child.
“I love it here because it’s more family oriented,” Binion explained. “Everything I need is right here. It’s friendly, and since I moved to the Mission, I’ve been getting more business. The convenience is a huge plus."
Binion and Kent know this firsthand—the essential need for childcare. Growing up, their parents lived and worked in San Francisco but couldn’t afford to provide housing for the sisters. They would visit their parents, wishing they could stay longer. Now, they’re doing what they can to help their neighbors in a similar situation while raising kids of their own. This resonates with TNDC's mission to create opportunity through affordable housing that provides a space for its residents to thrive in a safe, secure, and supportive environment.
“We want to give others what we didn’t have,” Kent said.
For Binion and Kent, running Precious Dreams Daycare is not just about providing a service—it’s also a path of healing. By offering childcare to local families, they are creating the sense of community and belonging they once craved.
As residents of Casa Adelante, both sisters and their children benefit from the building’s multicultural environment as well as its on-site amenities, including social services, laundry facilities, and artistic outdoor spaces.
“I’ve always made my way to the City because it felt like home,” Binion added. “Everyone here is so welcoming, and it truly feels like I’m meant to be here.”
Casa Adelante is more than a residential community, but also a space where business and community partners can thrive. Its ground-floor space is where Mission-based nonprofits reside, including, Galería de la Raza, which is dedicated to promoting Latinx and Xicanx art and culture, and HOMEY, which is dedicated to empowering youth and providing affordable childcare through the Felton Institute.
