OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY CENTER

Description

Open Door Women's Shelter (ODWS) is a program of Open Door Community Center. Open Door is a 9-bed emergency shelter for general population women and children. ODWS is not a domestic violence shelter. ODWS provides case management and safe shelter. ODWS opened its doors to its first residents January 2019 and operated only a night shelter. In 2023, ODWS opened a Day Center program allowing residents to remain in the shelter during the day 4 days a week. A 3,000 square foot expansion is underway which will open up 15 more beds. ODWS is always seeking more Residents Assistants (RA's) that will help open the shelter 24/7 by Summer 2025. RA's supervise the shelter and assist with resident needs when staff is unavailable. The Day Center program includes enrichment classes. Volunteer enrichment providers teach on topics such as financial literacy, employment skills, emotional regulation, and parenting or are community professionals who share their resources with residents. In the Day Center's first year of operation, volunteers have donated over 1500 man hours and residents have attended over 260 hours of classes.