Open Doors

Open Doors was conceived through our work at the emergency shelter, JCRATI (Jefferson City Room at the Inn). As we opened our doors to provide a safe place for those experiencing homelessness, we began building relationships with our guests and learning more about their unique situations. We discovered that many of them had jobs, skills, families, and dreams, but without stable housing, it was difficult to move forward.

We realized that through these relationships, we could help make their dreams a reality—if only we had more time and access to work with them. As you can imagine, most guests arrive at the shelter after a long day on the streets, often in extreme conditions, check in, enjoy a warm meal, and fall asleep. There’s little time or energy left to discuss goals or work through the barriers they face.

To address this, we created Open Doors as an access point for individuals experiencing housing instability. This program allows us to spend dedicated time connecting with guests, helping them navigate barriers, and providing support to find stable housing, employment and education opportunities, and address physical and mental health needs they may have. Through Open Doors, we can help our guests take the steps needed to turn their goals into reality.