Open Doors Kalamazoo is building a community of people who are overcoming homelessness through relationships, housing, employment, education, and sobriety in response to God's love for all. We are privately funded by people who want to make a difference. An ecumenical group of Christians established the Open Door coffee house in 1970 as a drop-in center to build relationships of support and caring with urban young people.
When our founders discovered there were many young people with nowhere to live, they turned their focus to providing overnight shelter. Along with shelter, our founders provided food, personal support, and encouragement for the young adult people who came to live with us. The Next Door was the first home for homeless women in Kalamazoo.
At the Open Door and Next Door, now many years later, we continue to develop relationships with our guests, work with them on their employment and personal issues, and encourage them to stay with us long enough to gain stability.On average, two-thirds of our guests are able to find employment, save for future housing, and maintain their sobriety.
When our founders discovered there were many young people with nowhere to live, they turned their focus to providing overnight shelter. Along with shelter, our founders provided food, personal support, and encouragement for the young adult people who came to live with us. The Next Door was the first home for homeless women in Kalamazoo.
At the Open Door and Next Door, now many years later, we continue to develop relationships with our guests, work with them on their employment and personal issues, and encourage them to stay with us long enough to gain stability.On average, two-thirds of our guests are able to find employment, save for future housing, and maintain their sobriety.
Services
Housing has become unaffordable for many people, including people who never thought they would have to worry about something as basic as a roof over their heads.
There is a severe shortage of affordable housing in our community.
Hundreds of school children in our county do not have a home.
Each night, as many as 400 people stay in one of Kalamazoo County's emergency shelters or on our streets.
Over 8,000 renter households in Kalamazoo have incomes lower than 30% of the area median income.
For a single person this is an annual income less than $13,300 and for a family of four it is an income less that $24,300.
There is a severe shortage of affordable housing in our community.
Hundreds of school children in our county do not have a home.
Each night, as many as 400 people stay in one of Kalamazoo County's emergency shelters or on our streets.
Over 8,000 renter households in Kalamazoo have incomes lower than 30% of the area median income.
For a single person this is an annual income less than $13,300 and for a family of four it is an income less that $24,300.
When Nathan was 2 years old, Open Doors had helped his family when they first moved to Michigan in 1989.
His family was homeless until his father could find a means to support them.
Eager to provide financial support for his young family, Nathan decided to work towards earning a degree in Information Technology at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Computers have always been a hobby of Nathan's so the choice came naturally to him, turning his passion into a career prospect.
Through the support of Open Doors and multiple scholarships from the Open Doors scholarship fund along with a strong will to provide for his family, Nathan is now a college graduate.
His family was homeless until his father could find a means to support them.
Eager to provide financial support for his young family, Nathan decided to work towards earning a degree in Information Technology at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Computers have always been a hobby of Nathan's so the choice came naturally to him, turning his passion into a career prospect.
Through the support of Open Doors and multiple scholarships from the Open Doors scholarship fund along with a strong will to provide for his family, Nathan is now a college graduate.
82% goes directly to help people who need housing.
12% is spent on administrative support for our work.
6% is spent on fundraising, most of it on the costs associated with our two fundraising events each year: Discover Open Doors and Bountiful Breakfast.
The need is huge.
Last year, for example, 1,290 students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade in our county were identified as homeless.
Because of inadequate funding, government affordable housing programs for low-income people serve only 23% of eligible participants.
12% is spent on administrative support for our work.
6% is spent on fundraising, most of it on the costs associated with our two fundraising events each year: Discover Open Doors and Bountiful Breakfast.
The need is huge.
Last year, for example, 1,290 students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade in our county were identified as homeless.
Because of inadequate funding, government affordable housing programs for low-income people serve only 23% of eligible participants.
Open Doors' board is a diverse and active group of community members who take their responsibilities seriously.
Our staff is committed to effective partnership with the adults and children who come to us needing homes.
Our staff believes careful management of the resources we have been given is a critical part of our mission.
Our staff is committed to effective partnership with the adults and children who come to us needing homes.
Our staff believes careful management of the resources we have been given is a critical part of our mission.
The Next Door is a residential program for people who identify as women who have nowhere to live.
Women in the program concentrate on becoming financially stable and self-supporting.
Women who do not have jobs search fulltime for employment.
Those who do have jobs save one-third of every paycheck for their future housing costs.
Women who are struggling with substance abuse or addiction make and keep a personal recovery plan involving 12-step groups.
Women who have not completed high school get connected with a program to earn a GED.
Women in the program concentrate on becoming financially stable and self-supporting.
Women who do not have jobs search fulltime for employment.
Those who do have jobs save one-third of every paycheck for their future housing costs.
Women who are struggling with substance abuse or addiction make and keep a personal recovery plan involving 12-step groups.
Women who have not completed high school get connected with a program to earn a GED.
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