April 2024 - HOPE LIVES HERE | |
SURE Housing Initiative Award
DOORWAYS was recently awarded a nationally competitive grant, Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions, through the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). The grant is designed to implement evidence-informed housing interventions for three vulnerable populations within the HIV community: youth, justice-involved, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The initiative's goal is to promote the replication of effective housing interventions to decrease health and housing disparities and improve health outcomes.
DOORWAYS was one of only ten organizations selected. The DOORWAYS focus within the initiative is to assist in providing Rapid Rehousing (housing for individuals who are seeking safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking situations) for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The program consists of three positions: a Navigator, to identify and educate landlords while cultivating those relationships, an Evaluator who will interview and determine eligibility of potential participants in the SURE Program, and a Case Manager to provide client engagement and management to individuals selected to participate in the program. Throughout the program, data will be collected and integrated.
Representatives of SURE, through The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) visited the Jefferson Avenue Campus earlier this month to meet with DOORWAYS staff for a site visit.
Pictured above - Front Row (left to right): Brenda Malone (DOORWAYS), Opal Jones (DOORWAYS), Christine Luong (JSI), Meghan Goudy (DOORWAYS), Mikayla Niethe (DOORWAYS) Back Row (left to right): Adan Cajina (HRSA), Cam Harrison (DOORWAYS), Travis Barnhart (JSI), Massah Massaquoi (CSH), Dave Whisnant (Collaborative Solutions), Allyson Baughman (Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Boston University), Carrie Bagwell (DOORWAYS), Amiel Cain (CSH)
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Cooper House Renovation Funding
The Cooper House Renovation Project was one of 14 projects put forth by Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) in a $13.7M community funding request she submitted for inclusion into the 2024 appropriations cycle which included an $850,000 award for DOORWAYS. These funds will be used for the renovation of Cooper House—our 36-bed assistive living facility.
With the approval of the $13.7M package, Congresswoman Bush secured resources for direct investments in homelessness prevention, public health, youth engagement, environmental justice, and economic revitalization projects throughout Missouri’s First District.
Opal M. Jones, president & CEO of DOORWAYS, was particularly delighted to hear DOORWAYS was chosen by Congresswoman Bush as one of 14 projects she would include in her 2024 Community Projects Funding Package and expressed her gratitude to Congresswoman Bush and everyone else involved in the appropriations process, which began in March 2023
Cooper House is the only housing facility in Missouri dedicated to the recovery and ongoing care of people coming from homelessness, battling HIV and other chronic illnesses associated with poverty, and unable to live independently. The Cooper House building was originally built in 1899 as the Methodist Orphans Home. Before it was gifted to DOORWAYS, the building served as a nursing home and has a historic place in the history of the City of St. Louis. DOORWAYS completed our first renovation nearly 30 years ago, being thoughtful and deliberate without destroying its character. We continually invest in routine maintenance and systems upgrades, but it is time for extensive capital improvements including a new roof, windows, tuckpointing and a new elevator to ensure our residents are provided with equitable surroundings and services.
Cooper House Residents receive 24/7 nursing care and medication management; assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs); advocates to manage healthcare appointments and transportation; individual and group counseling; a dining program with a focus on nutrition to rebuild the immune system and reverse the physical wasting associated with advanced cases of AIDS; case management by Cooper House social workers; and an activities director to assure opportunities to engage in community events and other activities. There are 36 private rooms with bathrooms, a dining room, project rooms, television rooms, a refrigerator on each floor with healthy snacks available 24/7, and a laundry.
The model of care provided by Cooper House delivers remarkable results. In our last fiscal year, 97% of Cooper House residents were maintaining viral suppression. That compares to 57% of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States.
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Friends In Deed - Spring Clean-Up
The Friends in Deed group's recent spring clean-up at the St. Louis AIDS Memorial Garden at Cooper House exemplifies their dedication to the community and their commitment to maintaining a welcoming and vibrant space for residents and visitors. The collaboration of 15 volunteers coming together to undertake the garden clean-up, including weeding, planting new perennials, and spreading mulch, highlights the power of collective action and community stewardship.
Led by Core Leadership Group members Colin Keller and Tracy Stone, the Friends in Deed volunteers demonstrated leadership and teamwork in organizing the work session and ensuring the garden was prepared for the summer season. The group's efforts in refreshing the garden and adjacent landscaping contribute to creating an aesthetically pleasing and sustainable environment for residents of Cooper House and the broader community to enjoy.
The Friends in Deed group's commitment to annual initiatives such as the spring garden clean-up reflects their ongoing dedication to community service and engagement. Their calendar of upcoming events, including participation in Give STL DAY, social events, community festivals like Tower Grove Pride, and the popular BYOBoo! Trivia event in October, showcases a diverse range of activities aimed at fostering connections, raising awareness, and supporting important causes throughout the year.
For those interested in staying informed about the Friends in Deed group's activities and opportunities for involvement, joining their Facebook Group here is a great way to keep up to date with upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support their impactful work in the community.
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Volunteers Dan Ader and Sister Kama Samudra Kshama, of The Fourth City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Abbey of the Glittering Arch, loaded up wheelbarrows with mulch for around the garden and surrounding flower beds. | |
The Friends In Deed volunteers working on the clean-up of the St. Louis AIDS Memorial Garden while resident Jim "supervises" and enjoys the spring weather. | |
Tracy Stone and Kevin Lin make quick work of spreading fresh mulch around the newly cleaned-up garden and flower beds. | |
Ladue News 2024 Charity Award Nomination
DOORWAYS has been nominated for a Ladue News 2024 Charity Award!
Readers are invited to vote NOW through Wednesday, May 1 for their favorite nonprofits, and we know DOORWAYS is one of yours! The five charities receiving the most votes from readers will be given a feature in the publication and a chance to share their mission with Ladue News readers.
Voting is simple...visit the link below, click on the "DOORWAYS" box, and then click “vote,” which will prompt you to share your e-mail address and name. Votes may be cast once every 24 hours.
Thank you for helping us to be recognized as one of these worthy organizations
Vote Here!
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UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION | |
ALTBALL...An evening of unconventional fashion benefitting DOORWAYS
This event is almost SOLD OUT! A limited number of $75 Legend-level tickets are still available at www.ALTBALL.org — get your tickets today!
Part gallery party, part fashion show, part underground ball--ALTBALL is designed to showcase how something fabulous can flourish when the basics are covered.....
Join DOORWAYS Friends In Deed for an evening of unconventional fashion on Thursday, May 16th at the Contemporary Art Museum.
The inaugural theme is Beauty From The Basics: A celebration of all that can flourish when the basics are covered. Simple necessities are often overlooked. Small comforts can mean so much to someone seeking stability. Housewares, personal care items, and objects that make a house a home. These objects can take on outsized importance to a life in transition. For many, they act as the building blocks to realizing their greater potential.
ALTBALL reimagines these supplies, turning them into dynamic and avant-garde fashions. Designers, artists, dancers, drag queens, and ballroom legends will showcase creations on the runway while raising funds for DOORWAYS’ programs. Special performances by the Divas of the Grove and TENS Ballroom Experience will elevate the ALTBALL runway to a truly unique spectacle.
Thank you to our current sponsors: Lewis Rice/Design Luxury, Legacy Dental Care, Neiman Marcus, Park Avenue Coffee, Kim Bouldin-Jones & Mike Reardon, Keith Thompson & Don Foster, and Michael Brave.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT:
www.ALTBALL.org
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GIVE STL Day
Mark your calendars for Give STL Day on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Give STL Day is a 24-hour on-line day-of-giving event, designed to ignite the spirit of giving across the region. Since its inception in 2014, Give STL Day has raised over $23 million for more than 1,000 regional nonprofits.
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Current Job Opportunities
DOORWAYS is always on the lookout for compassionate and dedicated people to join us in serving the community. Our services and programs continue to expand and so do our staffing needs. Below is a list of current open positions available agency-wide:
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COOPER HOUSE:
CNA*
LPN*
*These positions include a $2,500 sign-on bonus after successfully completing 90 days of employment.
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JEFFERSON AVENUE CAMPUS:
Accounting Internship
Building & Grounds Specialist
CFH Care Coordinator
Client Service Coordinator
Maintenance Technician*
Outstate Housing Specialist
TBRA Case Manager
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A full list of current job opportunities and their descriptions can be found on our website here. | |
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Always A Need: Amazon Wishlist
Did you know that DOORWAYS has an Amazon Wishlist to help support the simplest needs of our clients and residents?
CURRENT NEEDS - Many of our DOORWAYS Residents are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of household supplies and running low on paper goods and laundry detergent. (purchase link here)
Donations of cleaning supplies and general household items are always needed:
- Laundry pods • Toilet paper
- Paper towels • Hand soap
- Dish soap • Light bulbs
- Cleaning products (wipes, cleaning spray, etc.)
Wishlist items can be purchased and delivered through Amazon or dropped off at the Welcome Center: 1101 N. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63106.
The Amazon Wishlist makes it easy and convenient for you to make a difference in our resident’s lives. Click the link or the Amazon Wishlist image to browse and order from our list. Thank you for your continued support!
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DOORWAYS is an interfaith non-profit organization which provides housing and related supportive services to improve quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by HIV/AIDS. | |
DOORWAYS, an IRC 501(c)3 tax-exempt Missouri nonprofit corporation, is registered to solicit funds for charitable purposes in Missouri and Illinois. DOORWAYS only solicits such charitable contributions in MO and IL. | | | | |
